The Real Problem with Saying 'All Lives Matter'

American Thinker.com ^ | August 1, 2020 | Warren Beatty

[Kaslin]

Back in 2015, several dozen demonstrators interrupted Democrat presidential candidate Martin O'Malley (D-Md.) while he spoke at the Netroots Nation conference in Phoenix. They shouted, "Black lives matter!" The former Maryland governor responded, "Black lives matter. White lives matter. All lives matter." The demonstrators, who were mostly black, responded by booing him and shouting him down.

In a New York Times article written at the time, Judith Butler tried to explain away the demonstration by saying, "When some people rejoin with 'All Lives Matter' they misunderstand the problem, but not because their message is untrue. It is true that all lives matter, but it is equally true that not all lives are understood to matter, which is precisely why it is most important to name the lives that have not mattered, and are struggling to matter in the way they deserve. If we jump too quickly to the universal formulation, 'all lives matter,' then we miss the fact that black people have not yet been included in the idea of 'all lives.'"

In a July 11, 2016 article entitled "Why you should stop saying 'all lives matter,' explained in 9 different ways," German Lopez says, "But the point of Black Lives Matter isn't to suggest that black lives should be or are more important than all other lives. Instead, it's simply pointing out that black people's lives are relatively undervalued in the US — and more likely to be ended by police [emphasis his] — and the country needs to recognize that inequity to bring an end to it." Vox offered no explanation for Lopez's use of "undervalued," assuming, perhaps, that there could be no misunderstanding.

[logi_cal869]

“And the problem is, 95% of the people who advocate, support, have signs on their lawns supporting Black Lives Matter are Useful Idiots who have absolutely no idea of this fundamental incompatibility.”

---

Almost exactly the statement made in an article I’m still drafting on the topic.

Spot-on.

[Savage Beast]

Millions of people feel exactly as you do.

My wife implored me not to put pro-Trump stickers on my car--or fly the Trump flag, as I did before the 2016 election--because it would be dangerous. I have complied.

This speaks volumes about the USA in the 21st century. (Note tagline.)

I hope--and I believe--that those who feel as you and I do constitute a majority of the US voters and will re-elect President Trump in November.

If he is not re-elected, America will descend into a desperate situation. Pray that this does not happen.

[ConservativeInPA]

Well stated.

There is one thing that stuck out in what you wrote that I do not generally think about in the context of racism/white privilege/et.al., If you believe that the “playing field” is not level then you have two choices, compete anyway and work even harder to succeed, or go find another playing field.

Personally, as a white man, I have never seen the playing field as level. It's not level in school, business, pursuit of women, friends and life in general. There is always someone more intelligent, better looking, has better social skills, etc. I realize each of these things are double-edge swords. For instance, I know my intelligence takes away from my social skills. I often find it difficult to relate to people and I am misunderstood. I know this and I work on it. I do not play the victim. Likewise I do not covet other's strengths (at least I try not to.)

How selfish of me to want to improve. Why is it that some people do not seek self-improvement but instead choose to be a victim? This is particularly true of black culture which too many whites want to adopt.

I find it anti-American. I was raised to believe Americans are a "can-do" people. Then again, when I was a child the term "American race" was used. There was a time when we were a distinct people to be differentiated from other nations because we had proven our superiority, whether it was charity to the world, Christian love, economic prowless, military might, scientific achievements or the freedom and liberty in which we lived.

[Mustangman]

A better name and one that would get more support is: “Black Lives Matter too”. I’m not talking about the political movement. I’m talking about the thought in general..

[Tunehead54]

The beginning of the BLM. Worth watching every minute.

Sorry Trayvon. Bad night to get high and go WMA on an armed victim.

For a quick click: "The Trayvon Hoax, that was ground zero for the downward spiral of race relations in America. This incredible film (and book) has the potential to correct American history and bring America back together again."

Sorry - its 2 hours but worth your time - its Saturday night, the bars are closed, no pool and even the strip clubs are closed - none which I've patronized in years. Honest. ;-)

Put your feet up and watch the destruction of America begin.

Ooh, also watch for the fake witness that the prosecution knew was a fake witness. She's "plus-sized" so you won't miss her as opposed to his real girlfriend.

Note lack of trademark smiley.

BUMP!

[Biggirl]

And if you do not,nothing happens.

[Repealthe17thAmendment]

I think the writer here has over complicated it. The reason they don’t like to hear All Lives Matter, is that they don’t want to be treated like everyone else. They want to be treated differently. They want their shortcomings to be overlooked. They want the offenses of the past by white people to excuse them from the expectations of today.

[rlmorel]

Could you ping me when you post what you are writing? I would appreciate it...

[dp0622]

Of course. That would be much better.

I think both black lives matter and all lives matter are ridiculous. But one happens to be a dangerous marxist organization.

Saying bkack lives matters too is at least showing that they care about other lives.

But they don’t.

they don’t even care about black lives or they wouldn’t be putting all their focus in the wrong direction.

They are killing each other in tremendous numbers

[I want the USA back]

The reaction to “It’s OK to be White” should have been a sign. Hysteria and anger. The goal of the radical left (antifa, blm, muzzies) is to eliminate Whites, after taking all their money.

‘black lives matter ‘ is like allahu akhbar. Just as allahu akhbar means “my god is better than your god” ‘black lives matter ‘ means “Blacks are better than Whites.”

[Jeff Chandler]

black people's lives are relatively undervalued in the US — and more likely to be ended by police

Which is a crock of bull Obama.

[HangThemHigh]

All lives matter, excepting those a-holes over there.

[rlmorel]

That is my hope.

That there are a lot of people who feel that their freedom is being violated in real time by politicians, media, corporations and even their own fellow citizens, and that they are going to express themselves at the ballot box.

Even though the Left is doing all they can to remove the ballot box and replace it with the mail box, with all that entails.

[SharpRightTurn]

“the point of Black Lives Matter isn’t to suggest that black lives should be or are more important than all other lives. Instead, it’s simply pointing out that black people’s lives are relatively undervalued in the US”

This message should be directed at other blacks. They are the ones preying on their own people. The police are only trying to minimize muggings, rapes, assaults and batteries, and murders.

And, oh yeah, while you are at it, German, also get the message out that white lives matter. After all, when there is a violent crime involving a white and a black, 90% of the time a white is the victim and the black is the attacker.

[Nea Wood]

black people’s lives are relatively undervalued...

And gee, why is that? It couldn't be the fault of black people, could it? No, whites woke up some morning and decided to "undervalue" blacks, for absolutely no reason. They just singled out blacks, out of all the races, to be devalued.

If blacks want their lives to be "valued," then they need to shape up and quit acting in a manner that causes other races to fear them and avoid them.

[Right Wing Assault]

Black lives matter

is a lie, based how they are killing each more than ever.

[rlmorel]

Heh, I always make my posts too long. I can't help it.

I get the occasional well intentioned TL/DR comment when people care enough to post it, but I recognize most people simply won't read it. I have come to accept I am from a different era...I haven't even been able to use the acronyms like "BRB", "YMMV" or "SMH", though I have found I am capable of LOL and ROTFLMAO...:) And the smiley face emoticon too-I guess those never had analogues back in the day.

[palmer]

All matter matters.

Physics.

[Savage Beast]

Yes, voter fraud, by mail-in ballots, is the greatest threat to the November election.

If the shocking destruction of Democrat controlled cities in America does not convince the US electorate that a vote for a Democrat candidate is a vote for the destruction of the USA, nothing will, and the USA will have been lost--and destroyed.

[rlmorel]

In the 2004 I gave my boss a Bush-Cheney sticker which he put on his car (we socialized, so I knew he was a conservative)

He lived in a very upscale, leftist, gentrified area of Boston over near South Station, and came out to find his windshield wipers broken off with this note stuffed in his window (I asked him if I could scan it to keep for posterity)

As those who are wont to do this kind of thing usually say..."You have been warned."

I had this on my car for about a year surrounding the 2004 election:

I live in the state, but all the worst thing that resulted from that was that I got flipped off by a lefty woman with her hair in a bun.

I haven't put anything on my car or lawn since then, though.