Friday 20 January 2017

Euphemisms about Racism and Brexit 4

Metropolitan bubble

Reasons for voting Leave official word cloud: largest is “immigration”, next-largest are, in rough order of size: “country, sovereignty, control, borders, laws, British, back, independence, money, Brussels, democracy”.

In certain contexts, does “blaming others for your problems” translate as “Everything would be all right if it wasn’t for those people”?

Immigration has brought UK many benefits. But we need to recognise people’s concerns & have honest debate re migration/freedom of movement. (@RachelReevesMP)

Not all 'concerns' are valid ones. It's a euphemism for 'ungrounded prejudice' here. (@mrdavidwhitley)

'Concerns' is the current acceptable term for 'bias/groundless fear/flat-out racism', apparently. (Ross McKay ‏@RossMc11)

Today's headlines make a lot more sense if you read 'patriotic' as 'racist'. (Dean Burnett ‏@garwboy)

Actual genocide = what white ppl did every time they met a new group of non-white ppl in their expansionary colonialist projects
'White genocide' = miscegenation, loss of cultural/legal structures supporting white supremacy
(Sabine '17 ‏@ThatSabineGirl)

These people always start with 'we need to talk about the strain on public services' but it's always 'I don't like brown people' in the end. (Charlotte L. Riley ‏@lottelydia)

"Radical Terror" is of course code for "Muslims". (Andrew Brown ‏@seatrout)

AFAICS when they say Elite they mean *and only mean* this: white folks like myself who aren't on board with their blackshirt rubbish. (Benjamin Pope @fringetracker)

Perfect definition of "elite" in current discourse.
(@johnb78)

If by 'elitist' you mean 'doesn't automatically hate other humans and every other aspect of the world that isn't me' then yes, I guess I am. (Dean Burnett ‏@garwboy)

Also I hate 'metropolitan' as a sneery insult. 83% of the UK lives in an urban area. Or does he not actually mean 'metropolitan'? (Charlotte L. Riley ‏@lottelydia)

UKIP leader Paul Nuttall says unlike Islington Lab, UKIP will speak about matters that affect "real working class people and real working class communities". (Harry Cole @MrHarryCole)

Stephen Bush ‏@stephenkb That's "real" spelt with a w, h, i, t and e.


wow google translate is so powerful

PC culture has gone too far. I can’t express my opinions any more without someone saying it’s “offensive”.
Translation: I used to be able to abuse whoever I liked without anyone calling me out on it. My “opinions” are really just thinly veiled prejudices and I can’t get away with them any more.


I'm not "prejudiced" against racists because I'm not pre-judging them, I'm JUDGING them, based on the facts. (Mitch Benn ‏@MitchBenn)

Hating people who hate is not the same as people who hate people because they are not white straight Christian American men. (TheEducatedMinority ‏@Proud2Progress)

Pro tip: Anyone who tells you he is the "least racist person you've ever met" is definitely not the least racist person you've ever met. (Christopher Hayes ‏@chrislhayes)

‏Brexit was a thunderous rumble of national indignation and we misinterpret its meaning at our peril...
I met a Conservative Party member who despaired that, in his own words, two whole aisles in his local Tesco had been given over to Polish food. He was not a racist, nor even a xenophobe, but he was frustrated that cultural change had come to his neighbourhood without notice or consultation.
Mark Easton, Home Editor, bbc.co.uk
(People asked “which Tesco in the Cotswolds? Can we see pictures?” No pictures were forthcoming.)

“It is time for many of us on this side of the House to confront a hard truth,” Andy Burnham told the Commons, during an opposition debate on Brexit. “Our reluctance in confronting this [immigration] debate is undermining the cohesion of our communities and the safety of our streets." (businessinsider)

Translation in italics:
Did anyone else see Diane Abbott's car crash interview on Sunday Politics today? I very rarely agree on the side of Andrew Neil but her interview today was nothing short of embarrassing. She gave vague answers on Brexit and on immigration (didn't disapprove of immigration) and contradicted herself constantly and undermined the opinions of other cabinet members when debating these issues. (She disagreed with them.) This doesn't set an impression of a united front to the electorate. It makes Labour look more divided than ever. I was speaking to a long time Labour voter in my constituency of Sedgefield yesterday, and he put to me that he didn't know what the party's identity is anymore. It's very sad that some elements of our leadership including Miss Abbott look very much out of touch with the general consensus of large areas of the country (who want brown people to go away). I keep talking of this liberal metropolitan elite from London (who are much to welcoming to brown people) having a huge influence on Labour now and it's very damaging in areas like here in the north east which feel alienated (want brown people to go away). ... There needs to be sensible chats on immigration (agreeing that brown people should go away) and Brexit and other issues concerning ordinary (racist) people. ... We need a opposition that's going to be strong, organised and resonating with the people (agreeing that brown people should go away), and not taking their heartland areas for granted (or they won't vote for you). (Someone in the Left Wing and Proud group)

It's weird how the British English term for dog-whistle speech that grants legitimacy to racism and xenophobia is 'uncomfortable truths'. (‏@davidjmadden)

Australian MP says that immigrants just aren’t used to hearing contradictory points of view. (They’re trying to repeal anti-hate speech laws.)


2016 political dictionary: "outsider" = bigot ; "elite" = any person opposed to bigotry who isn't so poor they live in an actual ditch. (John B ‏@johnb78)


We should have a bit of time after the speech. If you are fluent in Platitudinish, please call in and provide a translation. (James O'Brien ‏@mrjamesob)

Downing Street says Brexit may cause the pound to undergo a "market correction". (@MitchBenn)

Theresa May calling for people to “come together” and “unity” on Boxing Day.
"Unity means doing what we say".
(Jonn Elledge)

What they said early on was, ‘Facts don’t work’, and that’s it. The remain campaign featured fact, fact, fact, fact, fact. It just doesn’t work. You have got to connect with people emotionally. It’s the Trump success. (Arron Banks)

More here, and links to the rest.

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