Mr. D. Goes to Washington
A follow up to my All Lives Matter video
I was shocked and disheartened by the response to my All Lives Matter video. I asked a simple, empirical question to those who say All Lives Matter in response to the Black Lives Matter movement — since when? And instead of people answering that question, I got a good deal of vitriol for simply asking — along with sprinkles of racism and a complete lack of empathy for those who have suffered a truly unique oppression which clearly has not yet ended.
We may disagree on the remedy, but I honestly don't see how anyone can say that all lives matter or have mattered in this country. And when I say that, it should be clear that we're talking about all lives mattering equally. Slaves mattered to their owners, but not in the way we're talking about when we say "All Lives Matter."
I'll move on after this, but there was too much left to be said after that first video. I hope you'll indulge me for a few minutes more.
Thanks so much, Patrons. I really appreciate your support! It makes me want to say, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! B
Comments (16)
Brian, Thank you for clearly and solidly stating this case (and others) and risking the responses. There are people hearing you who are in agreement and support you through the negativity.
Thanks so much for those kind words — and the heartening support!!! It really does make a difference. You have no idea how much it means to me.
Mr. Deity, how about adding a monthly donation option? The new transaction fees are larger for small donation, so I'd rather pay a larger lump sum than per thingy. If not, I'll increase my per-thingy donation and place a monthly cap on it.
Is that something I can do here on Patreon? I just did a cursory look and didn’t find anything. Didnt know about these new transaction fees.
A lot of people need to hear this argument, Brian. Ironically, if they're talking about "White Guilt" it's their projection speaking. It's what causes them to go extremely defensive when it is suggested that they might be racist.
Wow! This is good and powerful stuff. Thank you, Keep it up.
What, you are surprised that so many people can't think their way out of a wet paper bag, that they cannot dissect an argument and dream up a response that makes sense? I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!
As I watched this great video I was reminded of the book, "The People's History of the United States". It's a good book and should be required reading in High School. We need to understand the shitty things this nation has done in the past so that we can assure that it won't happen in the future. Instead, we sugar coat our history and our leaders promote nationalism. Thanks for putting this video out there.
Yeah, I saw the comments. I'm very disappointed in those people. Disappointed and not surprised. If you use YouTube to search for Crash Course Sociology (it's an educational series) their recent episodes about racism, sexism, etc had a heap of thumbs down. I was scared to read the comments. So even people who say they want to learn will turn bad when presented with uncomfortable facts.
oh my
I'm sorry to hear that you've been the target of such vitriol. I guess sometimes the truth is hard for people to hear.
Thanks for the post, Catherine. I agree with your comment. If these kids mattered, they wouldn't be detained. They'd be educated in a normal safe settings and detention wouldn't be an issue...I know that. I guess I just need somewhere to go with the situation at hand. Working to keep our kids out of detention and in safe healthy settings by supporting education, employment, health, healthy families, and nutrition education will help keep all of us safer, even those who fail to apply logic to why black lives matter.
@Sutter - I don't believe Brian is implying that only one set of lives - black, Asian, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, atheist, male, female, LGBTQ, etc - matter and all other lives do not matter. @Brian - thank you for another outstanding video. I cannot answer your question for the very reasons you explicated. I just increased my contribution.
Great vids, Brian. True, lives are not valued equally. I see it everyday. I work in government monitoring the implementation of educational programs for detained children and youth. This is what is not sitting well with me...while it is blindingly obvious that lives are not valued equally, does it intrinsically follow that these lives don't matter? I couldn't do what I do if I thought these lives didn't matter.
Well done, Brian. The same people who rail against Black Lives Matter because not all proponents of the cause are perfect may well be the same people that discount the uncountable blots on the history of Christianity perpetrated by the imperfect zealots of that particular movement. Keep on pressing to have the same logical standard applied to all discussions of this type.
I share your frustration. Keep asking the question. The fact that no one can address it, much less answer it, speaks volumes in itself.