Conservative -> Tea Party -> White Supremacy

This interesting post by Al Jazeera covers the growing numbers in various white supremacist movements in the US since the election of President Obama.   It also draws parallels between the rhetoric of these supremacist groups (National Socialist Movement, Neo-Nazi Party, Council of Conservative Citizens) and the Tea Party Movement.

♦

I wasn’t alive during Jim Crow.  First-hand, I didn’t get to see Bull Conor’s squads of police and firemen assaulting members of SNCC, SCLC, CORE, and other human rights protestors.  I’m beginning to hear some of the same speech from the 60s, today at these Tea Party rallies.  After watching the Al Jazeera post on White Power USA, watching several Fox News shows, and Tea Party Rally footage, I begin to feel like a silent storm is brewing.  Sleeping racists, sealed in the sarcophagus of public embarrassment, now have a place, platform, and a party to voice their grievances and exaggerated notions to rationalize their hatred.  Since the 1960s, many Americans have this idea that the American populace has become progressively racially tolerant, but the rise of the Tea Party and expansion of numerous white supremacist groups shows that while some were becoming tolerant, a large number of people were just silent.  The election of the 1st non-white president served as a catalyst.

I’ve watched and listened to numerous rants about how horrible the country will be now that President Obama is in office by many people of different races.  While only two people I know could point to legislation and reasonable examples of the Obama Administration continuing Bush Administration policies, most have these unfounded reasons for disliking him and believing that he’s bringing the apocalypse.  These same people criticizing him now were silent while the Bush Administration and its allies sent death squads throughout the world, exploited the resources of the 3rd world, and started several wars in the Middle East.  It’s obvious that people have prejudices that are played on most artfully by Fox News and conservative radio, creating these outrageous ideas about President Obama and other people of color alike.

“Take our country back,” is a commonplace bellow at both Tea Party and National Socialist Movement rallies, but what does it mean?  Who does “our” include?  Take it back from who?

This isn’t as overt as saying eradicate the blacks, latinos, muslims, jews, and non-whites.  But if we deconstruct the meaning and feeling behind that statement, it is alarming and divisive.

For those of us who aren’t racists and really wish to live in a society that is inclusive of all people regardless or color, religion, sexual preference or orientation,  we need to expose these groups and build coalitions for peace.  Hatred must be left in the 20th century for it is not beneficial to all of humanity.  We need to organize support behind progressive organizations and allies in politics to make sure the 14th Amendment isn’t repealed and any liberty gained as a result of the Civil Rights and Human Rights movements aren’t lost.  We want to add to our liberties.