Emily
Emily
Aug 23, 2017 · 1 min read

I struggled with this, too. And I winced at the “eat cake instead of confronting nazis” sentiment. Though I do think that’s not what she’s actually suggesting. I’m torn, also, on the whole to acknowledge or not. I’ve found that “ignoring” the bullies doesn’t really work (unless you’ve got a very limited time with them — i.e. ‘yes, grandma’s a bully. you see her once a year. two hours, then we’ll go eat cake.’). But arguing about something does, almost by definition, give the issue credibility. It seems that the answer is “don’t let them do it, but don’t argue about it, either.” Maybe. Like “NO!” is our response. Not “fascism is bad because…” Just “NOPE!” They’re wrong, but I don’t need to explain why. It’s like one of those lines from “All I really Needed to Know I learned in Kindergarten.” (if you don’t get the reference, you’re young. It’s a book from the late 80s / early 90s of essay by Robert Fulgum — or something like that — I think.) They’re all pretty obvious. Racism is wrong. Obviously wrong. If people don’t get it, it isn’t because they’ve got a good argument. It’s because they’re racists.

Honestly, “the world sucks; I’m going to go eat cake” won’t save the world, but it might work for a evening between being out there fighting.

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    Emily

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    Emily

    prof, writer, hockey fan, cat owner.