One-Armed Shadowboxing

In making everything about race, the left is fighting only the enemies it wants to fight. And it’s losing.

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Dear Reader (Including those of you who found Madison Cawthorn’s transformation into comedic soft-porn character so gradual you didn’t even notice),

So I’ve spent the week talking about abortion, and frankly I’m exhausted. Discussing such an emotionally radioactive issue can be exhausting. So let’s take a break from that and talk about race instead.

In Rocky II, Mickey comes up with a strategy to beat Apollo Creed in their rematch: Rocky should fight right-handed. The strategy has three advantages to it. First, it’ll surprise Creed because Rocky is a southpaw. Second, changing his stance will help protect Rocky’s bad eye. And third, they had to come up with something to make the movie different from the first one. 

So Rocky trains with his left arm tied at his side, to build up his right arm.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Ralph S

    Unfortunately, the leftists only wanting to frame a culture in a simple evil (white racism - let alone a racism that isn't white) will not read an article such as this (One-Armed Shadowboxing). Then again, neither will the right-wing Trumpian sycophants who see all complaints from the left as corrupt Marxists (a lot of them are) trying to abolish freedom through notoriously well-hidden election fraud. Certainly, Mr. Gosar and Ms. Greene lack the sensibilities necessary for living among people that do not always agree or look alike.

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    Ben Connelly

    “ Ninety-four percent of Americans approve not merely of interracial marriage, but specifically of marriages between white people and black people.”

    The hardcore alt-right/neo Nazi/white supremacist racists tend to be pretty proud of it. So I doubt too many of them would hide the fact when asked in a survey. Still, I suppose there’s still a few closet racists.

    “ “[O]ne must acknowledge that the GOP is not a political party anymore,” the Washington Post’s Jen Rubin recently insisted. “It is a movement dedicated to imposing White Christian nationalism."”

    Jen Rubin is probably the NeverTrumper I’ve lost the most respect for. She seems to have lost her mind. I have my disagreements with Bill Kristol, but I have immense respect for him. Rubin, on the other hand, seems to have gone from “ambivalent right” to hardcore “republicans are evil” leftist.

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  3. Brett

    I dare say this is Jonah at his best. Great work.

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    Earl King

    When everything is about race, then nothing is.

    Bluntly Americans of all colors are simply turned off by the “everything is racist” activists. The reason they stopped listening? Because of what we can see with our own eyes. Lots and lots of people of color prospering. If there is anything aggrieved people want it is money and power. Lots of people of color have both. We could we have another Black President in Tim Scott. I will await the inevitable from the Left. Uncle Tom, Oreo comments by Progressives. By far the most racist rhetoric is reserved for people of color who are conservatives. I believe The View had this discussion. I am one hundred percent sure they don’t view themselves as racist but thy are. Their smug superiority was smeared all over the screen. Which brings me to the whole painting of anyone who disagrees with the left’s pronouncements or who or what is racist.....simple disagreements over policy can end up with someone saying those who oppose are racist. People stop listening when the evidence doesn’t match the rhetoric.

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    Collin

    it’s funny to me how similar this iteration of the new right and the new left are to one another. Both want industrial and cultural policy. Both are somewhat obsessed with identity. Granted, their viewpoints are at loggerheads. Yet, they come to them with many of the same assumptions.

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  6. jimmyz76

    sorry, but this does not sound like Jonah Goldberg

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    Michael Salardino

    Once again, Jonah, a brilliant analysis! The far left and the "woke" crazies are killing the party. They are as bad as the Trumpists. It's why I am now unaffiliated. Thank you!

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    KAM

    The America-is-racist Unified Field Theory invokes the demons of race. And they will come forth, in precisely the neo-fascist forms invoked.

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    Paul Gross

    Amen! I am 74 and have seen the immense progress this country has made in regard to racism. To have someone tell me that I am racist merely because I am white is not only irritating, but racist!

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  10. Aaron

    A good G-File as always. I must admit that I'm a tad disappointed that you didn't address what feels like a strong element of Schumpeterian New Class dynamics underlying woke Anti-racism.

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