In a recent piece Andrew Sullivan makes an interesting observation: critical race theory (CRT) and “great replacement theory” (GRT) which apparently motivated the perpetrator of the murders in Buffalo last week are mirror images of each other. Both depend on racial essentialism; neither are believed by a majority of Americans. He concludes:
And this is the trap we are in. CRT and GRT are in a deadly and poisonous dance in our culture. They foster ever-increasing levels of racial identity in each other; they demonize whole populations because of skin color; they both believe liberal democracy is rigged against them; and the logic of their mutual, absolutist racial politics is civil conflict, not democratic deliberation.
If we are to get past the kind of ugly violence and race essentialism in Great Replacement Theory, then we also need an antidote to the toxins of Critical Race Theory. The two illiberalisms are profoundly connected. They need each other. And, in their racialized heart, they are morally exactly the same.
I’ll just add one observation of my own. Is there any other country in the world in which you can become wealthy by complaining how badly you’re being treated?
Two arent really alike so he is stretching. CRT is a real legal theory. It is taught in sone law schools. Rufo said that they would use CRT to define anything not liked by the right wing so the stuff that is disliked is made up. GRT is made up. Yes, some politicians and celebrities have gloated because they think that all of the immigrants coming here are going to give Dems a majority. It wasn’t a plot and I guess it should be noted its largely not working.
So what you have a is a made up theory (GRT) being used to worsen racial politics. Then you have CRT which has been around for years without causing issues but some bastardization is being used to scare people.
Steve
“Both depend on racial essentialism;”
Any theory or policy based upon racial essentialism should be dimly viewed. (steve)
I shouldn’t be surprised, but the commentary on Replacement Theory has been piss poor, and of course is being cynically employed, especially by our illustrious President.
To hear media and politicians accounts RT is relatively new. Here in the US it goes back at least to the Irish Catholic immigration wave of 1850-ish and Protestant backlash. Then we have the Chinese immigrants of the 1880’s. If we fast forward we have the 1916 book The Passing of the Great Race by Madison Grant. Of course, in today’s debate people want to start in the 70’s or 80’s, and invoke the skinheads lunacy. Its a right wing thing, you see. But let’s get real, the gloating of the current Senate Majority Leader and current Speaker of the House about “demographics are destiny” make clear its hardly just the deranged fantasy of skinheads – all 200 of them. And is there anyone who denies Joe Biden is a racial demagogue, pure and simple? Then you ain’t black………..or haven’t been to a Dunkin’ Donuts, or aren’t concerned about being “put back in chains.”
Globally, Nazi Germany is the modern poster boy. But RT surely goes back as far as recorded history.
That Democrats view indiscriminate immigration in electoral terms is undeniable. The only thing left is to see if they are correct about the voting proclivities of these immigrants. It appears Catholic Latinos may not share the fascination with trannies as much as do well off suburban moms, woke corporations and college professors.