Your essay (with which I agree) warrants a far more substantial response, but I'm gonna leave this here anyway: Had enlightened - or decency-based - awareness been proferred as being "awake" rather than "woke," I don't believe the reactionary voices could have leveraged their way to the extent of power that they have. Language means so much.
My response is that we all have the responsibility to persuade and defend moral progress. When I hear progressive activists say to someone "it's not my job to explain why trans people should have rights. You should educated yourself" — I flinch. Because everything I know about human psychology and the history of moral progress tells me that yes, it is absolutely everyone's job to "educate" people from their ancient bigotries.
Your essay (with which I agree) warrants a far more substantial response, but I'm gonna leave this here anyway: Had enlightened - or decency-based - awareness been proferred as being "awake" rather than "woke," I don't believe the reactionary voices could have leveraged their way to the extent of power that they have. Language means so much.
My response is that we all have the responsibility to persuade and defend moral progress. When I hear progressive activists say to someone "it's not my job to explain why trans people should have rights. You should educated yourself" — I flinch. Because everything I know about human psychology and the history of moral progress tells me that yes, it is absolutely everyone's job to "educate" people from their ancient bigotries.
Bravo, Mike. Outstanding piece. I shall cross-post it.