Today's "much ado about nothing" news story that demonstrates the lengths people will go to attack opponents involves a speech from Jill Biden, where the first lady praised the diversity of the community, saying it was “as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio.”
According to one of the 1,500 Latinos attending her speech to the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, most in the room applauded and laughed at her series of three similes. But some people just have to find something to attack and to get a bit of attention, so a few complained on social media about being compared to tacos... and thus demonstrating that their grasp of how figurative language works is a bit weak.
Of course we know that actual Hispanic people, no matter their backgrounds and origins, are not actually bodegas, blossoms, or tacos. The series of three examples are meant to demonstrate range and comprehensiveness. Torturing the language to make this an insult is a stretch.
We might try our own series of three similes, this time describing the diversity of Irish immigrants:
"The community of Irish immigrants is as distinct as the cozy pubs of Brooklyn, as beautiful as the view of the Atlantic from the Ring of Kerry, and as unique as U2 compared to The Wolfe Tones."
I suppose some overly sensitive souls might object to being "cozy pubs, a view, and a band," but they would simply be missing the point. It's a series, and uses the "magic" of three examples, and implies that Irish culture is both well-known and diverse. Perhaps not diverse enough, but how exactly do we measure "enough" diversity?
While the Christians in Name Only rally to impose their will about abortion and about the secondary status of women on the nation as a whole, more progressive voices seem more interested in performative virtue and showing themselves to be purer than you and me.
Sure, Mrs. Biden mispronounced "bodega," and YouTube rejoiced. There is nothing more human than enjoying celebrities being embarrassed or slipping up. If you do any public speaking, there will be stumbles and mumbles, tripping over phrases and even skipping a key word. Want to avoid all speaking errors? Don't talk. Someone like Mrs. Biden might be credited with showing up and trying to connect. The fact that she doesn't connect with everyone is just reality.
There are many important issues for Democrats (or perhaps Dems in Name Only?) to discuss and analyze and argue about.
It's not that those criticizing Mrs. Biden's simile choices are wrong from their point of view... and their insights into why they resist easy stereotypes are valuable.
But every time this sort of silly dispute becomes a headline, the CINOs rejoice, the bigots give thanks, and the greedy radical right politicians rake in more cash.
Those same critics will be shocked when progressive candidates are defeated at the polls -- should that occur -- all while disavowing any responsibility. They mostly want to be "right."
After all, who would have guessed that the Republican radicals were not keen on diversity? Both parties are equally bad, you say? See last month's Supreme Court decisions for the results of not caring who is in power.
Where are the strong and sustained attacks on the excesses and ugliness of Republican politics? Why must Democratic politicians attempt to build consensus despite all evidence that their opponents could care less?
Dems need to focus.
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