Has anybody else been pretty shocked by how polarized many of the forums have gotten lately? 'Back in the good ole' days,' people would occasionally have differing view points and get into little spats, but on the whole we were all on the same page and working toward the same common goal (patient and nurse well-being).
These days it feels like at least 1/3 of the trending forums eventually devolve into tirades and personal attacks. Even when the discussions start out fairly civil, they sour pretty quickly.
I realize that highly-polarized, highly-sensationalized news is the nature of our political system these days. I'm also guessing that the polarization is felt more deeply on AN because the two most prominent, polarizing topics right now (covid and 'black lives' protests) are both interrelated with public health. Usually AN members are at least somewhat united on the aims and goals for public health, even if they don't agree with the means. Now, there's just so much bickering.
It's really disheartening. AN is usually my escape from the outside world, where I can commiserate with other nurses on topics that only we understand. Lately, it feels like the lighthearted, feel-good nature of AN has been poisoned by all of this hatred. I hope we get back to the way things were sooner rather than later. ?
Anyway, I don't know why I even bother. It is clear that white nurses along with white America does not care about racial inequality and disparities black nurses and black America faces. They would rather defend, deflect or attack rather than try to do better and be better. Hence why so many black nurses on this site have left.
Moderators, you all need to do a better job at policing this place (pun intended).
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
9 hours ago, juniper222 said:
From what I have heard they were started by ANTIFA and not BLM. And if you watch some of those videos there are blacks who do not support the rioting and looting.
No
The president said that but he is a liar. There is no evidence that antifa is rioting. There is evidence that Boogaloo Boys ARE trying to generate violent conflict between police and protesters.
We've been told for years not to judge police based on the actions of a supposed few so if that's one's position I think it's fair to extend the same courtesy to the protesters.
But also....riots are a reflection of rage and frustration and distrust in other measures. MLK who white people love to selectively quote on nonviolence recognized this.
I've been much more troubled by the oppressive, heavily militarized response to the protests than the destruction of property which is replaceable. Imagine if we as a society had listened and responded before people erupted with this rage. Imagine if we addressed the fact that even as the "poster child" for progressive police reform, Minneapolis still saw police murder Black citizens without consequence. Imagine if we addressed crime in urban, largely Black areas the same way we do in largely white, suburban areas: with community investment, programs that improve quality of life. Imagine if we addressed the long term consequences of slavery, segregation, red-lining, the school-to-prison pipeline, war on drugs. Imagine if we addressed access to healthcare and food insecurity and food deserts.
And for the record, I think the two party system in this country does not serve us, and I think the democrats are not the party of social justice they like to be credited as. They are certainly not "the left" but centrist at best and have contributed to the rise and legitimacy of the alt-right and explicit white supremacist organizations.
And to add, very few revolutions/movements that have been effective have been peaceful. American Revolution, Civil War and the abolition of slavery are just some examples in American history where peaceful protests did not work and things had to be escalated in order for change to occur.
100% this. What we are witnessing is a rebellion. I am hopeful that it becomes a revolution.
Okay, then answer this. If the protest is about what cops do to black people then why are innocent people being killed, homes destroyed, cities burnt down. The words do not match the actions. You mention religion. Think what you like. My faith in secure in my Heavenly Father. I will pray for you.
Okay, then answer this. If the protest is about what cops do to black people then why are innocent people being killed, homes destroyed, cities burnt down. The words do not match the actions. You mention religion. Think what you like. My faith in secure in my Heavenly Father. I will pray for you.
No, you mentioned religion. I just responded.
And who has died at these recent protests? Where are you getting your fake news from?
Why do you care more about buildings and other inanimate objects than innocent life being lost? Since you like to mention God so much, do you think God actually gives a damn about brick and mortar or does he care more about his or her children?
And since white America loves to quote MLK, I will leave you with his quote: A riot is the language of the unheard.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
10 minutes ago, she244 said:
Okay, then answer this. If the protest is about what cops do to black people then why are innocent people being killed, homes destroyed, cities burnt down. The words do not match the actions. You mention religion. Think what you like. My faith in secure in my Heavenly Father. I will pray for you.
The violence is intended to generate violent conflict between the police and protesters. Should I repeat that? We have a tendency to believe things when they are repeated. The actions match the words of the anarchists perfectly. Your gaze has been deflected by design.
Jesus was not a pacifist. He asked his followers to seek love, mercy and justice with discernment. He didn't ask us to sit quietly he asked us to walk in faith. That's a verb. Take a step for Jesus.
Okay, then answer this. If the protest is about what cops do to black people then why are innocent people being killed, homes destroyed, cities burnt down. The words do not match the actions. You mention religion. Think what you like. My faith in secure in my Heavenly Father. I will pray for you.
The deaths I’ve heard about are protesters* killed by police or alt-right terrorists. Last count I saw there have been 120 killings by police since George Floyd was murdered.
EDITING to add: protesters or, you know, the usual police extrajudicial murder of Black people.
Anyway, I don't know why I even bother. It is clear that white nurses along with white America does not care about racial inequality and disparities black nurses and black America faces. They would rather defend, deflect or attack rather than try to do better and be better. Hence why so many black nurses on this site have left.
Moderators, you all need to do a better job at policing this place (pun intended).
Its almost when people have a gaslighting/strawman narrative, you will have a faction of people willing to disagree (many will go along with the agenda in fear of social repercussions). Crushing and silencing others opinions as a means of oppression bodes foul for the country as a whole. Calling the jackboots in in order to mask the weakness in an argument is also poor form.
I think for the most part people agree that police reform is a needed in lieu of police brutality but seeing how you react at the slightest form of dissidence is concerning to say the least.
As I said before in other thread we are teetering towards 1984 or the 5th century Roman Empire at this point. Do you want to know how that story ended?
Its almost when people have a gaslighting/strawman narrative, you will have a faction of people willing to disagree (many will go along with the agenda in fear of social repercussions). Crushing and silencing others opinions as a means of oppression bodes foul for the country as a whole. Calling the jackboots in in order to mask the weakness in an argument is also poor form.
I think for the most part people agree that police reform is a needed in lieu of police brutality but seeing how you react at the slightest form of dissidence is concerning to say the least.
As I said before in other thread we are teetering towards 1984 or the 5th century Roman Empire at this point. Do you want to know how that story ended?
Meh. You’re just stirring the pot. I thought you were leaving?
While I am for listening to opposing viewpoints, what I’m seeing is you just resorting to incendiary retorts with no true substance. At least with posters I typically disagree with (juniper comes to mind), I do learn from him and where he is coming from - from you? You’re just looking for an argument for the sake of arguing.
Meh. You’re just stirring the pot. I thought you were leaving?
While I am for listening to opposing viewpoints, what I’m seeing is you just resorting to incendiary retorts with no true substance. At least with posters I typically disagree with (juniper comes to mind), I do learn from him and where he is coming from - from you? You’re just looking for an argument for the sake of arguing.
So if you looked at the main thread (MNA nurse respond), I posted a litany of peer reviewed sources supporting my argument. The issue is when you have low-info posters who repeatedly state, "ciTE yOUr sOUrCE" without bothering to read two posts before, is when you realize the thread is devoid of intelligent discussion. So yeah, I am going to call out the glaringly obvious issues with discourse on here. People seem to have a problem with information when it doesn't align with what the media, their emotions and social circle. Data can be uncomfortable.
I am honestly perplexed that an evidenced based profession can't be bothered to actually make a coherent argument without appealing to emotion or drumming up another host of logical fallacies as a defense.
So stating that I am arguing just to argue is sidestepping the actual issue. I posted sources with the proper commentary. Is that not argument? Or maybe that's just not the approved party line argument?
Okay, then answer this. If the protest is about what cops do to black people then why are innocent people being killed, homes destroyed, cities burnt down. The words do not match the actions. You mention religion. Think what you like. My faith in secure in my Heavenly Father. I will pray for you.
Better question, if racism doesn't exist and police aren't the bad guys, why have 5 Black men been lynched and police immediately claim it's suicide and never want to investigate until people protest and call them out? Why did police have a sick out because their racist counterpart was rightfully charged with murder? If you put as much time into being civilized and less about making excuses for bigotry and unjustified murder you might be a better person. Instead, you use the same religion that was used to validate murder and hide behind it. Maybe you and others in this thread are hell bent on making excuses because y'all are just as bigoted. Don't say otherwise because you've gone beyond past the point of letting us know exactly where you stand.
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ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP
1 Article; 2,594 Posts
Anyway, I don't know why I even bother. It is clear that white nurses along with white America does not care about racial inequality and disparities black nurses and black America faces. They would rather defend, deflect or attack rather than try to do better and be better. Hence why so many black nurses on this site have left.
Moderators, you all need to do a better job at policing this place (pun intended).