BLM, ALM, and your friends

[Rhea]

Last week an acquaintance in my town made a post on facebook about All Lives Matter. Discussion ensued. A few of us posted why we think there’s a valid reason ALM is not appropriate to say unless you really do NOT think Black Lives are part of the All Lives. Others posted about how she was right and BLM is divisive and only ALM is appropriate. Others posted on how she was being racist and awful and they were going to stop posting with her.

I posted something I thought was calm and informative. She actually clicked “like” on my post and replied, “that is a good point.” Some others also made some calm statements that were read and liked.


So anyway, today - about a week later - she changed her profile picture to be encircled by a BLM logo.
Wow.

Wow.

Hooray.

Apparently, even though some were overboard in both directions, the whole picture somehow gave her useful information that she decided was enough to change her perspective. It’s a little thing - one white woman - but it was uplifting nevertheless.

 

[ruby sparks]

Nice story. Go you Rhea.

I’ve not had a similar discussion myself. Youngest daughter is BLM (went to the local rally). Eldest daughter too. Wife almost certainly. Myself, while I would ideally prefer ALM (because it covers police brutality and violence in general, and the problem does affect vulnerable whites, just not to the same extent), I can see that it’s better, if someone supports BLM, to just accept and support them rather than countering. If forced to make a choice I’d opt for BLM, all things considered, but only if I had to choose.

I see quite a few BLM-supporting posts on my Facebook feed which I guess means that some of my Facebook contacts lean that way. I haven’t seen anyone posting ALM instead.

 

[thebeave]

The aspect of the BLM vs ALM discussion that I don't like is that there is sort of a cultish and totalitarism ring to it. In the minds of many, if you don't proclaim your allegiance to just BLM and denounce ALM, then you are racist, and your support is not wanted, even if you generally do support their goals and ideals. Reminds me of this old Seinfeld episode:

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuafhcg843c[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Harry Bosch]

The aspect of the BLM vs ALM discussion that I don't like is that there is sort of a cultish and totalitarism ring to it. In the minds of many, if you don't proclaim your allegiance to just BLM and denounce ALM, then you are racist, and your support is not wanted, even if you generally do support their goals and ideals. Reminds me of this old Seinfeld episode:

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuafhcg843c[/YOUTUBE]

I have a lot of respect for your position here. I do. But I think that to emphasize ALM over BLM today is to firstly demonstrate poor timing, inability to listen to current events, and possibly not understanding how Black Americans are uniquely discriminated against in our society.

 

[TSwizzle]

You spend a lot of time proselytizing for this new religion.

 

[Harry Bosch]

You spend a lot of time proselytizing for this new religion.

You don't think that there is greater discrimination against African Americans?

 

[Rhea]

You spend a lot of time proselytizing for this new religion.

Who are you replying to?

 

[Keith&Co.]

The aspect of the BLM vs ALM discussion that I don't like is that there is sort of a cultish and totalitarism ring to it. In the minds of many, if you don't proclaim your allegiance to just BLM and denounce ALM, then you are racist, and your support is not wanted, even if you generally do support their goals and ideals. Reminds me of this old Seinfeld episode:

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuafhcg843c[/YOUTUBE]

I guess it depends. Does one bother to bring up ALM to amplify BLM, or to dismiss it?
Everytime my coworkers state ALM, it's directly as a counter to any mention of BLM, or any race-related protest.

 

[Rhea]

The aspect of the BLM vs ALM discussion that I don't like is that there is sort of a cultish and totalitarism ring to it. In the minds of many, if you don't proclaim your allegiance to just BLM and denounce ALM, then you are racist, and your support is not wanted, even if you generally do support their goals and ideals.

Interesting. I have never once heard anyone denounce ALM except in the context of a reply to a person denouncing BLM by saying ALM.

Do you hear that a lot - people just popping up unexpectedly with “I’m against ALM!” ??



In the context of the OP - a person was denouncing BLM and proclaiming allegience to ALM. (Does that sound cultish and totalitarian to you? Or just the other way around is bad and this is good?). It was followed by 3 groups - one which said, “yeah! With you! Denounce BLM! Alliegience to ALM or you’re an anti-white racist!” (Does that sound cultish and totalitarian to you? Or just the other way around is bad and this is good?). The second group said “ if you don't proclaim your allegiance to just BLM and denounce ALM, then you are racist, and your support is not wanted”. And the thrid group which said, “here’s why those two are not equivalent, what do you think?”

So the “many” in this case was not what you claim “many” people do. Interesting contrast!

 

[repoman]

People who police think can't get a good lawyer lives matter

PWPTCGAGLLM

 

[TSwizzle]

You spend a lot of time proselytizing for this new religion.

Who are you replying to?

You must be very pleased with your conversion therapy success to share the joy with us all.

 

[bilby]

You spend a lot of time proselytizing for this new religion.

Who are you replying to?

You must be very pleased with your conversion therapy success to share the joy with us all.

I have changed my mind; This discussion board does need a negative rep option, for those rare occasions when you really don't want to engage with a post, but really don't want to have your lack of response misinterpreted as silent approval.

 

[RVonse]

The aspect of the BLM vs ALM discussion that I don't like is that there is sort of a cultish and totalitarism ring to it. In the minds of many, if you don't proclaim your allegiance to just BLM and denounce ALM, then you are racist, and your support is not wanted, even if you generally do support their goals and ideals. Reminds me of this old Seinfeld episode:

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuafhcg843c[/YOUTUBE]

Sheep on steroids. He is doing it so I must do it. It is exactly the same mindset of the sheep who cleaned off all the shelves of toilet paper during the start of the corona virus.

 

[Politesse]

You spend a lot of time proselytizing for this new religion.

Finally a religion worth keeping around?

 

[TSwizzle]

You spend a lot of time proselytizing for this new religion.

Finally a religion worth keeping around?

Not really, it shows the same dangerous attitudes towards people who ask questions or have a different opinion, just like all the other faiths.

 

[TSwizzle]

Reminds me of this old Seinfeld episode:

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuafhcg843c[/YOUTUBE]

WHO?!! WHO DOES NOT WANT TO WEAR THE RRRIBBON ?!!!

 

[Politesse]

You spend a lot of time proselytizing for this new religion.

Finally a religion worth keeping around?

Not really, it shows the same dangerous attitudes towards people who ask questions or have a different opinion, just like all the other faiths.

Such as?

 

[rousseau]

Rhea I have noticed that you're great with wording, here and on Facebook. Maintaining people's self-respect, while showing them other avenues of thought. It's an admirable skill, one that I wish I had, but invariably every time I say something political some part of it comes out wrong. So rather than lose all of my friends, most of the time I just zip it and like the post.

 

[Rhea]

Rhea I have noticed that you're great with wording, here and on Facebook. Maintaining people's self-respect, while showing them other avenues of thought. It's an admirable skill, one that I wish I had, but invariably every time I say something political some part of it comes out wrong. So rather than lose all of my friends, most of the time I just zip it and like the post.

Thank you - although it’s interesting I find your replies very interesting and thoughtful, so I imagine you have the effect you want more than you know.

 

[Rhea]

You spend a lot of time proselytizing for this new religion.

Finally a religion worth keeping around?

Not really, it shows the same dangerous attitudes towards people who ask questions or have a different opinion, just like all the other faiths.

I’m a little confused about your point.


Am I happy with my conversion? Well, I don’t know that it is mine. For all I know it was the people calling her a racist who got her to see something new. Or the people saying, “hell yeah! Fuck those BLMers!” I was just pleased (as one is,) when I got the feedback that said she was genuinely listening to the conversatin she started and open to new ways of considering it.

And then I was surprised, in a good way, when I saw someone go from a position I thought was unkind to one that I thought was kind - however that happened - in a context that is usually filled with anger and defensiveness. Again - hooray for her to be the sort who is thinking about issues.

Not sure if I answered your questions because I’m not sure what they are, but I hope that helps.