This post is the latest from Culture Study — the newsletter from Anne Helen Petersen, which you can read about here. If you like it and want more like it in your inbox, consider subscribing. When I turned on the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, it felt like an assault of awkwardness. Zoom makes everyone look like they’re in the uncanny valley, and it doesn’t help that so many white politicians have the polished look of characters from The Sims. It felt stilted, a simulacrum of political energy, and, at least until Michelle Obama’s speech, flat.
While watching the roll call, I was surprised to see my neighborhood light rail station as the backdrop for the Oregon contingent, then immediately recognized the significance. A horrible racist attack happened here in May 2017. Two people lost their lives defending young black women wearing headscarves on the train. I doubt many Oregonians even recognized the location, but some did. ( https://trimet.org/tribute/) I wondered about other symbolic spaces that were used. It seems as though people did consider the meaning of the backdrop to deliver an unspoken message from this moment in time. Thanks, AHP. I'm interested in following you here.
I used to be one of those big tent Republicans. I was in because - common sense - a budget needs to be balanced (within limits of a wide range of good credit.) That was it, not terribly nuanced. As I moved forward, I quickly learned I didn’t belong because there was no fundamental respect of human rights. Any killing could be justified except that of a cluster of cells in a woman’s body.
I found that to be the ONLY thing that Dems agreed on. If human rights are respected, that includes a woman’s right to make decisions about her body. That’s really the bedrock belief that exists today. A hundred subgroups exist but as long as fundamental human rights are respected, Dems can coexist and get along. We may even accomplish some political wins along the way.
Dems will continue to grow because the respect of human rights will increase. We will be more fractured but always agree on basic terms.
While watching the roll call, I was surprised to see my neighborhood light rail station as the backdrop for the Oregon contingent, then immediately recognized the significance. A horrible racist attack happened here in May 2017. Two people lost their lives defending young black women wearing headscarves on the train. I doubt many Oregonians even recognized the location, but some did. ( https://trimet.org/tribute/) I wondered about other symbolic spaces that were used. It seems as though people did consider the meaning of the backdrop to deliver an unspoken message from this moment in time. Thanks, AHP. I'm interested in following you here.
I used to be one of those big tent Republicans. I was in because - common sense - a budget needs to be balanced (within limits of a wide range of good credit.) That was it, not terribly nuanced. As I moved forward, I quickly learned I didn’t belong because there was no fundamental respect of human rights. Any killing could be justified except that of a cluster of cells in a woman’s body.
I found that to be the ONLY thing that Dems agreed on. If human rights are respected, that includes a woman’s right to make decisions about her body. That’s really the bedrock belief that exists today. A hundred subgroups exist but as long as fundamental human rights are respected, Dems can coexist and get along. We may even accomplish some political wins along the way.
Dems will continue to grow because the respect of human rights will increase. We will be more fractured but always agree on basic terms.
oh my but I am glad I immediately hit the subscribe button as soon as I saw it! Thank you!