What people don’t seem to understand is that I don’t think anyone who disagrees with me is evil or racist or sexist. I think people that do evil racist and sexist things are evil racist and sexist.
And if you Are so upset about being called racist that you vote for trump to stick it all those meanie liberals then yeah you’re probably racist. It’s always so funny to me how this advice of “ talk to the people you disagree with and don’t insult and attack them” only applies to the left
We're talking specifically about Trump supprters, but there is a pattern I see with some people on the Left to attack people who have genuine fears and call them racist.
Lets tke for instance one of the most controversial actions Trump has done in his presidency. He temporarily banned Muslims from 7 countries. Just to put this in perspective, Chatham House in the UK asked a far harder question than that to the people of 10 European countries. They ask whether they believed all Muslim immigration should be stopped. Not a temporary ban and not limited to 7 countries, all Muslim immigration, permanently. Well, in 8 out of 10 of those countries asked, the majority said yes, they want Muslim immigration to be stopped. I will also mention in one of the countries where it was not a majority (the Uk) only 47% believed all Muslim immigration should be stopped. 47%
So, what does that tell you? Does that mean the majority of Europeans are then racist. This is not necessarily the case. Considering the amount of terrorism, for instance, it is fair to say a lot of people have a genuine fear of the level of Muslim immigration into Europe. It is not just terrorism though, the increase in sexual assaults, and other crimes throughtout Europe has something to do with it. The other thing is, there are people who genuinely feel that Islam may not be compatible with Liberal values. What would it mean for an increasing Muslim population for the future of Europe?
Here's the thing: Shouting people like this down as racist when they have genuine, real fears, is not only intolerant, it is dangerous. In some sense you can see a self-fulfilling prophecy emerge. If the Left make it impossible for people to seriously express their views and opinions on subjects like this, they are only going to push more people to right-wing populism. In some way you have to try and address people's concerns. Failure to do so, will not only show your side as weak and incapable, it will also allow right-wing populists to fill the void the Left has created. The worst possible thing you can do is demonise them. Where else do they have to turn?