being patient like that definitely a skill that is not always easy to get right, and certainly takes practice.
What it mostly takes is mountains of privilege.
Not to mention that tone policing and demanding faux civility (but only from one side, the other gets to openly support oppressive constructs and still be seen as “well meaning” while those defending their humanity and fighting for survival get framed as the problem) are tools that serve to further oppress already marginalise voices, not uplift them.
Whenever I see these sorts of posts I think about how different they are from revolutionaries who have accomished major successes. The latter group almost universally says you have to keep explaining, keep educating, keep persuading.
I don’t think it can be said enough that bringing revolutionary change will require doing a hundred things we would rather not do. It is labor, and it is unpaid, because that’s what a social movement requires to differentiate it from posting. I’d rather not go to meetings, or organize my workplace, or go to a protest, or go on strike – but if it’s necessary to get to socialism, I’ll do it. I’d rather not put in the effort of patiently bringing people along to my views, but if that works better than telling them to fuck off, I’ll do it.
There’s a difference between tone policing and humility, a pretty large one, in fact. Huey P. Newton (and myself, by extension) are not blaming those emotionally exhausted or tired. I refuse to condemn those who speak truth to power, or who have a fiery tone. Lenin is one of my favorite writers, and he never held back. Same with Frantz Fanon. However, I have found a good amount of success by trying to be patient with others, and this is a fact I’ve had to grapple with.
Basically, even if patience is more effective for some people, I refuse to condemn those that choose a more direct and confrontational path. Finger-wagging about “civility” is obviously wrong. Moreover, legitimate fascists and reactionaries are not the same as “well-meaning but misinformed” people as I originally spoke of, and generally should be outright opposed with little care for civility or hostility.
Moreover, legitimate fascists and reactionaries are not the same as “well-meaning but misinformed” people
Yeah, this is the big point. If they’re “…[invalidating] your humanity, and the humanity of people you love,” they are just abusing your patience, and don’t deserve it. Fuck those people.
What it mostly takes is mountains of privilege.
Not to mention that tone policing and demanding faux civility (but only from one side, the other gets to openly support oppressive constructs and still be seen as “well meaning” while those defending their humanity and fighting for survival get framed as the problem) are tools that serve to further oppress already marginalise voices, not uplift them.
Do better.
Whenever I see these sorts of posts I think about how different they are from revolutionaries who have accomished major successes. The latter group almost universally says you have to keep explaining, keep educating, keep persuading.
I don’t think it can be said enough that bringing revolutionary change will require doing a hundred things we would rather not do. It is labor, and it is unpaid, because that’s what a social movement requires to differentiate it from posting. I’d rather not go to meetings, or organize my workplace, or go to a protest, or go on strike – but if it’s necessary to get to socialism, I’ll do it. I’d rather not put in the effort of patiently bringing people along to my views, but if that works better than telling them to fuck off, I’ll do it.
There’s a difference between tone policing and humility, a pretty large one, in fact. Huey P. Newton (and myself, by extension) are not blaming those emotionally exhausted or tired. I refuse to condemn those who speak truth to power, or who have a fiery tone. Lenin is one of my favorite writers, and he never held back. Same with Frantz Fanon. However, I have found a good amount of success by trying to be patient with others, and this is a fact I’ve had to grapple with.
Basically, even if patience is more effective for some people, I refuse to condemn those that choose a more direct and confrontational path. Finger-wagging about “civility” is obviously wrong. Moreover, legitimate fascists and reactionaries are not the same as “well-meaning but misinformed” people as I originally spoke of, and generally should be outright opposed with little care for civility or hostility.
Yeah, this is the big point. If they’re “…[invalidating] your humanity, and the humanity of people you love,” they are just abusing your patience, and don’t deserve it. Fuck those people.