Wrong is wrong no matter how you color it
Experts believe the Buffalo murderer was driven by something called the “Great replacement” theory. Credit for this conspiracy theory goes to Renaud Camus, the wealthy owner of a French castle and acres of farmland who published his book Le Grand Replacement in 2012. New Yorker appropriately calls this an “alarmist book.” In Camus’ mind, white Europeans are being “reverse colonized” by black and brown immigrants. Think about this for just a second. Power lies with money, and it is highly unlikely that these black and brown immigrants had two nickels to rub together when they moved to a new land. They, therefore, had no power or authority to colonize anyone; they merely sought their freedom and fortune in a new land. This is but one example of the twisted nature of this theory. This conspiracy theory has now been adopted by white nationalists, which adoption has been helped along by Tucker Carlson. NBC News reported that Carlson now faces scrutiny for continuing to push his poisonous vitriol. “Scrutiny” isn’t enough for him; he needs to be removed from the airwaves before he causes even more harm.
As NBC News reported, the Buffalo gunman’s manifesto included the “great replacement” conspiracy theory loved by white supremacists. They not only believe people of color are replacing them but that the entire thing is being pushed by “a cabal of Jewish people and Democratic elites.” What kind of foolishness is this? Have they learned nothing from Pizzagate and Marjorie Taylor Green’s “Jewish space lasers?” Some people must just enjoy looking irrational, and that includes Tucker Carlson. He consistently pushes inflammatory rhetoric, and when he is called on it, he denies and claims to “disavow political violence.” Sure he does. As NBC News reported, Carlson has promoted this theory over 400 times on his show. Now, he will likely say he’s just “reporting” and not inciting violence, but his “reporting” does nothing but incite violence. You cannot remove yourself from a situation that you (a) keep putting yourself into and (b) that has been shown to have a negative impact. You are either against violence or you are not, and clearly, Carlson is not.
To make matters worse, members of the GOP are trying to separate themselves, but one of their own is having none of it. New York Times quoted Liz Cheney: “House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-Semitism.” She’s not lying. It started with Donald Trump, and it continues with the participation of Congresspeople in white nationalist activities. Words matter, and those words are being taken as excuses to commit violence against those white supremacists see as threats to their pathetic existences. Many Republicans continue along this path even though they must know what their “American traditional values” rhetoric is causing. Anyone who does not fit this imaginary norm is and will be a target. American traditions must embrace all that we are and all that we dream to be, which includes tolerance, respect, and love. Until we can learn to accept that, we are going nowhere fast.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years