Daily Archives: April 19, 2021

The Democratic party has taken a radical turn on immigration. Gone are the not-so-distant days of Barbara Jordan, when concern for the rule of law and social and economic cohesion were taken seriously. Today, the party is led by firebrands like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who call for abolishing an entire enforcement agency. Democrats have staffed all four immigration-related panels in the House of Representatives with members who are hostile to national borders. The Democratic-controlled chamber has already passed two major amnesty bills. Not to be outdone, President Biden has signed several executive actions that stop construction of the border wall, eviscerate interior enforcement, and remove restrictions on travelers from regions rife with terrorism, among other things.

None of these policies had the support of Democratic leadership in the 1990s. At that time, President Clinton was enforcing the law, environmentalists were concerned about population growth, and labor unions were prioritizing American workers. Those positions, which had bipartisan support, are condemned as close-minded and bigoted by Democratic leadership today. What brought about this fundamental change, a change so extreme it threatens the very sovereignty of the United States? Like their libertarian counterparts on the right, one should never discount the powerful financial incentive that Democratic elites have for opposing borders. But powerful financial incentives existed long before the current push to effectively abolish immigration law. The mainstreaming of these radical positions is, at least in part, the result of a long Gramscian march through the institutions that began in the early 20th century.

In his book The Genesis of Political Correctness: The Basis of a False Morality, Michael William traces the development of critical theory by a group of German social scientists who grew disillusioned with the failure of traditional Marxism. Realizing no proletarian revolt was forthcoming, they converted the ideologys attacks on class into broader cultural antagonisms. The group, known as the Frankfurt School, saw the fundamental structure of Western society as irredeemably oppressive and sought its eventual overthrow through internal conflict. This conflict would be fomented primarily through the manipulation of language that would recast all relationships as power struggles between the oppressors and the oppressed. By changing the way that familial and social relationships were defined, Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, and their colleagues sought to change the way that people understood these relationships. Over time, they hoped that discontent and division would break down the existing order of society.

In his essay Repressive Tolerance, Marcuse, echoing Rousseau, argues that public opinion is invalid because a false consciousness has become the general consciousness, enslaving people who do not know they are enslaved. This tyranny of the majority, which masquerades as tolerance, can only be overcome by militant intolerance. Marcuse advocates banning the speech and assembly of certain groups and he calls for the withdrawal of civil rights from a majority who is oppressing the minority. He supports rigid restrictions on teachings and practices in the educational institutions and argues that support for calm and reasoned debate facilitates oppression. What is needed is the development of an enraged and subversive faction that is willing to engage in violence against the established order.

Marcuse believed that the catalyst for this uprising would be alienated minority groups. Such groups would take the place of the broader working class who, to Marcuses chagrin, seemed content in their supposed oppression. So he looked to the American black population as a possible source of agitation and supported militant activism. It is important to note that Marcuse did not want these activists to succeed in remedying injustice, but wanted minorities to remain marginalized from the larger society. As William explains, For Marcuse, the integration into society of supposedly alienated groups acts as a stabilizing force and thereby neutralizes the revolutionary elements which, according to Marxism, should be committed to societys overthrow.

The key for Marcuse, a founder of critical theory, was to sow division. It was not to redress wrongs or grievances within the existing social framework, but to perpetuate and inflame those wrongs and grievances until the social framework could be overthrown. Integrating peoples into a functioning society was not helpful to his goal of revolution. But one major development, which Marcuse may not have even anticipated, was helpful: the modern era of mass immigration. As Marcuse was winding down, that era was winding up. The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 exponentially increased the number of immigrants admitted to the United States. In just a couple of decades, there were enough newcomers to begin to overwhelm the assimilation process. And by that time, there were enough critical theorists in academia to challenge the very notion of assimilation.

One such theorist is Jurgen Habermas, a prominent German sociologist whose voluminous body of work is heavily influenced by the Frankfurt School. As William points out, Habermas believes that the classic form of the nation state is disintegrating and envisions a constitutional patriotism that is stripped of language and culture and devoted to a political authority that extends civil rights beyond borders. He claims that citizenship was never conceptually tied to national identity and that republican freedom can cut its umbilical links to the womb of the national consciousness which had originally given birth to it. Habermasnow sees the possibility of a global public sphere that was once imagined by Kant and Rousseau: The arrival of world citizenship is no longer merely a phantom, though we are still far from achieving it. State citizenship and world citizenship form a continuum that already shows itself, at least in outline form.

For the classic form of nations to disintegrate, national identity must first be dissolved. Habermas, like many of his fellow academics, sees mass immigration as a catalyst for this process. He praises the effect of multiculturalism on the United States and, in the European context, writes approvingly that Immigration from Eastern Europe and poverty-stricken regions of the Third World will intensify multicultural diversity in these societies. This will give rise to social tensions. He believes that these social tensions, which were sought by Marcuse, will hasten the move to a supranational governing structure that is devoid of shared history or tradition.

Like Marcuse, Habermas dismisses the suffering that will result from these social tensions. He denigrates concerns over the upheaval caused by mass immigration, referring to such concerns as the chauvinism of prosperity: The European states should agree upon a liberal immigration policy. They should not draw their wagons around themselves and their chauvinism of prosperity, hoping to ignore the pressures of those hoping to immigrate or seek asylum. The democratic right of self-determination includes, of course, the right to preserve ones own political culture, which includes the concrete context of citizens rights, though it does not include the self-assertion of a privileged cultural life form.

Habermas asserts that Ones own national tradition will, in each case, have to be appropriated in such a manner that it is related to and relavtiveized [sic] by the vantage points of other cultures. He sees mass immigration and the relativizing of cultures as a way of democratizing citizenship. This process is being pushed with a particular goal in mind. As he explains, Only democratic citizenship can prepare the way for a condition of world citizenship which does not close itself off within particularistic biases, and which accepts a worldwide form of political communication.

This view is now pervasive among public figures. William cites several others, like Bhikhu Parekh, a British political theorist turned politician who served on race and multicultural commissions before being appointed to a life peerage in the House of Lords. Parekh uses his influential position to call for unlimited immigration to transform the United Kingdom into a community of communities and a multicultural post-nation that sheds its cultural identity. These sentiments are nearly universal in American universities and are routinely pushed by post-American politicians and activists. While campaigning for president, Joe Biden tersely summarized this view with his assertion that people who entered the United States illegally are more American than most Americans are. In other words, America is merely a vague unrooted universal sentiment.

Underlying this position is the skepticism and intolerance of critical theory, with its contempt for the rule of law and efforts to integrate newcomers into a majority culture that is seen as oppressive. As William notes, this contempt extends to patriotic citizens, who are now being taught to embrace a hatred for their countries and their histories. Like previous revolutions, this great upheaval is being undertaken with the foolish hope of creating a secular utopia. Whether they realize it or not, Democratic leaders are now perpetuating this upheaval with their efforts to effectively abolish immigration law.

See the rest here:

Critical Theory and Mass Immigration - Immigration Blog

I joined The Daily Iowans Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee because I have an overlooked and poorly portrayed condition.

Turner syndrome led me to one of the most impactful experiences. Having a medical condition that media organizations often overlook or misrepresent is what inspired me to join The Daily IowansDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Turner syndrome is rarely in the media and is not portrayed well when it is.

WPLG Local 10 did a story about a girl with Turner syndrome and a serious heart defect. The headline, Potentially deadly syndrome affects only females, is misleading. Heart conditions, which are common with Turner syndrome, are serious. However, Turner syndrome is not a terminal disease. Calling it a deadly syndrome makes it seem like clickbait instead of being accurate.

This is why its important to have diversity training like ones the DI has held, which emphasize the importance of doing research when writing about identities we ourselves do not have. If the journalist had asked a source or researched the average life expectancy of someone with Turner syndrome, this mistake could have been avoided.

Commentators even made religious and political jokes on the story. Those jokes arent necessary. People with Turner syndrome go through many serious and scary medical procedures, requiring utmost courage. Ive been told at 18 years old I would probably need open heart surgery and took a daily growth hormone for years.

People who choose to tell their story deserve respect instead of jokes. Turner syndrome needs to be portrayed more accurately so there is an understanding of it.

Law and Order SVUhad a character with Turner syndrome. The show said people with Turner syndrome are trapped in the bodies of children. This type of rhetoric is harmful to the mental health of people with Turner syndrome who are already self-conscious about being short, looking a couple years younger, and their body developing slower than that of their peers. Even if I dont look 22, Im a legal adult. My body is that of one.

This is why its valuable the DIs DEI team is willing to talk about how to make coverage more inclusive of all people including those with disabilities. The first step towards fixing these portrayals is journalists being willing to listen and learn like the DIis.

People with disabilities are often overlooked in the media and diversity discussions. Im blessed beyond words to have a DEI committee which has not overlooked and sees the value behind the stories of others like me.

Our DEI teams mission statement of giving a voice to underrepresented communities has a special place in my heart because it shows nobody should be embarrassed about an identity they have. I used to be embarrassed to talk about Turner syndrome to even my closest friends.

We refer to a style guide, which is based on a University of Iowa-developed style guide, with terms not to use and not use when referring to certain groups of people. Adjusting our vocabulary is not just about political correctness but showing people you genuinely care about them.

Im thankful for a platform to share my story and a DEI team which shares my passion for fixing portrayals of Turner syndrome and other identities. Accuracy and respect are vital because were all valuable and newsworthy human beings with stories worth telling.

Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.

Read more from the original source:

Opinion | How Turner syndrome inspired me to join the DI's DEI Committee - UI The Daily Iowan

Auto Traderand executive search specialistsEnnis & Co.are collaborating on a number of free-to-attend diversity and inclusion (D&I) digital events over the coming weeks.

On 21stApril, Ennis & Cos founder and director, Lynda Ennis, will be joining the next episode of Auto TradersCourageous Conversationswebinar series, alongsideHaymarket Automotivesmanaging director, Rachael Prasher, to discuss the role of political correctness and PC language in the workplace.

The one-hour webinar will explore where the struggles are with understanding what is and isnt acceptable. Importantly, theyll also be looking at what steps businesses can take to ensure their D&I strategies are adapting in accordance to the changing PC landscape.

The webinar will be followed by the third annualMaking Diversity & Inclusion a Business Realityevent.

Daksh Gupta, Marshall Motor Group CEO,who has been closely involved with the event since its launch in2017, commented on the need to inspire and encourage a balance of gender, races, and backgrounds into automotive roles.

I am very much looking forward to being involved in the Making Diversity and Inclusion a Business Reality in partnership with Ennis and Co and Auto Trader.

While we are starting to see some real traction on gender diversity across the sector, and certainly within Marshall, theres clearly more work to be done to make our businesses more accessible, attractive and inclusive to a wider talent pool than we have today. With our combined commitment and drive from across the sector, I have every confidence we really can make Diversity and Inclusion our business reality.

Go here to read the rest:

Next: Auto Trader to hold free diversity and inclusion events - Motor Trader

When the Australian soap opera Neighbours introduced its first non-white family in 1993 the Lims from Hong Kong their first major storyline was to be accused of eating another neighbours dog.

Admittedly, the person doing the accusing was Julie Martin, a character known for being obnoxious, and described by the official Neighbours book as unbearable. Eventually, in a triumph for race relations, they were vindicated. After six weeks, they were written out. The dog, Holly, stayed around for five more years.

Historically, Australian television both scripted and not has been overwhelmingly white and Anglo-Saxon, more so than the population.

Recently, Indigenous actors Shareena Clanton and Meyne Wyatt revealed that they had experienced racism and racial slurs on the set of Neighbours. Fellow Neighbours alum Sharon Johal told Guardian Australia she endured direct, indirect and casual racism on set, including being referred to as the black one, and mimicked with an Indian accent like Apu from The Simpsons.

The former host of the long-running variety show Hey Hey Its Saturday, Daryl Somers, recently apologised to the singer Kamahl for repeated unsolicited jokes about his skin colour and race when he made guest appearances in the 1980s.

A montage of segments, recently circulated on Twitter, showed a joke that Kamahls album would go black instead of gold or platinum, the singer getting hit in the face with white powder and told Youre a real white man now, and a caricature of him sitting in a stew pot with a bone through his nose.

The TV historian Andrew Mercado says television in Australia has generally been whiter and less representative of the general population, compared with the UK and US, though that is changing.

Mercado says he can find only three instances where Australian Indigenous characters were featured on the main competitor to Neighbours, Channel Sevens Home and Away, across 32 years.

One of those was a dream sequence in which the character Alf Stewart imagined himself transformed into an Indigenous man, due to a brain tumour.

One actor was Wes Patten, who played a student called Kevin Baker in 1993, Mercado says. One was a ghost that Alf imagined he was, when he was dying of a brain tumour on the operating table. Luke Carroll played Dr Lewis Rigg, for seven weeks. He is their last and most recent, in 2007.

The Alf Stewart storyline, he says, doesnt even count [as representation]. He wasnt real.

The set-up was he was having a brain tumour and he was imagining things Alf was walking around in the body of an Aboriginal man, who was played by David Ngoombujarra.

Now, he says, Home and Away features a Maori family, the Parata family, played by Rob Kipa-Williams, Kawakawa Fox-Reo and Ethan Browne.

And Neighbours, at least recently, has surged ahead of Home and Away in representation. Current characters include hearing-impaired teacher Curtis, played by Nathan Borg, and transgender student Mackenzie, played by Georgie Stone.

Both were cast after the actors pitched themselves to the show, and their characters storylines are written in consultation with the actors.

Yet, when it comes to race, Mercado says both and especially Channel Seven have a lot to do.

He draws comparisons with The Heights, a two-season soap opera commissioned by the ABC set in a public housing tower, and with New Zealands Shortland Street.

The Heights screened in the UK during the pandemic last year and averaged a million viewers a day the same as Neighbours in the UK.

What I liked about The Heights wasnt just that they had a family that was Indigenous, it was the fact that there was another man who lived in the building who was also Indigenous, who was not related to them, Mercado says. The Indigenous characters had other Indigenous friends in the show to speak to I thought it was extraordinarily well done and I wish the ABC would do more.

The cast of Shortland Street is a third Mori or Polynesian, which frequently rises to 50% when you include guest roles.

And that is their No 1 commercial TV show, he says.

In the UK, soaps like EastEnders and Hollyoaks have featured many more non-white faces for years, though Mercado points out that Hollyoaks was criticised by many of its actors last year for similar issues of racism.

And, he says: Coronation Street, which has been going for 60 years, has only recently brought in a black family.

In 1989, another mainstream Australian show, A Country Practice, was years ahead of its competitors.

Prof Gary Foley, an academic at Victoria University, and Indigenous activist who helped found the Canberra Tent Embassy, featured in a guest role on the show over four episodes.

Crucially, Foley says, he was allowed to write his character himself.

[Creator] Jim Davern rung me up and asked me if I was interested, Foley told Guardian Australia. I said I was only interested if I could write my own character and my own dialogue. The character I wanted to play was an Aboriginal Christian pastor who advocated land rights.

I didnt have any of the sort of problems that the people on Neighbours did.

Kim Lester, who along with Melanie Tait, hosts A Country Podcast, said that Foleys appearance was a model that other shows of the time could have used to create better representation.

Lester says that A Country Practice was still not the most multicultural show and in an interview with Davern he acknowledged it was a product of its time.

But as early as 1982 it featured a storyline about a gay couple who were rejected by their community, which Lester says was essentially unprecedented on commercial TV.

Foley says: It was a productive time for me because the message I was trying to get across about land rights for Aboriginal people got through, and it got through to the biggest audience of my life. It went to 28 different countries.

Which brings us to the Lim family. Their dog storyline was intended to be a parable against racism, but the reaction was overwhelmingly negative, Mercado says.

In their really clunky way, that was them trying to say look at the discrimination they face, he says. But if there was any good intended to it, it was lost in the delivery.

By the time her character had seen the error of her ways, she made friends with her new neighbours, but they were dispatched after six weeks.

Mercado says it is fear of change that is keeping screens so white.

I believe that the main structural issue that keeps Australian TV so white is network executives who are still all mostly male, straight and white, he says. Until they include more diverse decision makers, and stop second-guessing their audience, nothing will change.

Foley tells Guardian Australia that the revelations on Neighbours are nothing new.

Its not a question of trying to do something on the set of Neighbours, it is a question of the whole of Australia coming together to expose the elephant in the room white Australian racism, notions of white supremacy that Australians held until the latter half of the half of the 20th century.

Recently Somers now hosting Dancing With the Stars said Hey Hey Its Saturday would not be able to be aired today due to political correctness.

Mercado says that argument is the stupidest thing.

People have a sugar-coated memory of what it was like, he says. I always say to those people watch an episode of that show from beginning to end.

There is edgy and dangerous comedy on Australian TV all the time now. The difference is if you look at a show like Have You Been Paying Attention, they make Asian jokes about Sam Pang, because he is on the show with them. Not a guest who drops in every five months. He was on the show to start with.

A show like Pizza or Housos is as politically incorrect as you can get. They are making fun of everybody, because everybody is in the show.

Link:

Whitewashed: why does Australian TV have such a problem with race? - The Guardian