[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Hang on, are you suggesting that 50 or 100 activists furiously issuing demands do not necessarily represent the millions of people who they claim to represent, even though they share a race, gender, or ethnicity? That those millions of people aren't a homogenous group and might have diverse opinions about police, race, gender, and a host of other issues?



This goes back to what I said earlier about the most dedicated cadre of anti-establishment activists alienating even many of the people they claim to represent by insisting that all who are struggling against West/Patriarchy/White/Straight/Capitalist establishment have common interests. Each time you introduce a new mandatory cause to show solidarity with you narrow the appeal of your own cause.

Okay women, let's stand up for ourselves and press for equal opportunity in the workplace and in marriage! (Millions of women cheer)

And let's tell that misogynist Catholic Church that they can go to hell! (Hundreds of thousands of Catholic women look around nervously and walk away)

And we have to put a stop to the exploitation of capitalism and put the power of the economy in the hands of the state! (Hundreds of thousands of women who are okay with the free market slip away)

And we won't stand for the raping of the environment any longer. Stop logging! Stop fracking! Stop the oilsands! (Hundreds of thousands of women whose families relies on those industries shrug and leave).

And let's show our solidarity with Palestinians by denouncing Israel! (Hundreds of thousands of women who have no dog in that fight shake their heads and walk away)

Hey, where did our support go? We're being marginalized! The mainstream media and the establishment have demonized our cause!

Is it reasonable to expect everyone who is gay or who supports gay rights to necessarily be on-side with Black Lives Matter, or any other activist group, and be willing to throw people who they are trying to build bridges with under the bus out of solidarity with radicals?

To True Believers there's no question. When you've built your entire worldview and public engagement on an unrelenting ambition to tear down the establishment, anyone who doesn't share your zeal seems like traitors to the cause. But most people aren't True Believers. Most people, be they gay, feminist, an advocate for the homeless, or a supporter of environmental stewardship has at least one foot in mainstream society, and doesn't want to burn it all down. They drive cars and shop at malls and live in the suburbs and take their kids to soccer. They don't side with the radical left on every issue. Maybe it's more important to them to welcome police to a parade than it is to give Black Lives Matter a platform for their narrow cause.

Nailed it