Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food

Is there any Democrat who does not think he (she) is a victim of discrimination?

The final stage of competitive victimization is...civil war.

Upon the conclusion of said civil war...the cycle of competitive victimization begins anew, which eventually leads again to civil war.

And that’s how the world turns.

Corollary to the above: The ferocity of a civil war is especially intense when the supposed “hegemonic majority” believes itself to be the the most victimized group of all.

If Nancy had been a man, and not a victim of sexism, “he” would be Emperor of the Universe by now.

I think she means that she is called B**** and C*** all the time and demeaned by her sex.

Don’t get me wrong, I hate her...but not because she is a woman.

I think you’ve pretty much pinned it down. Politics these days means posturing, i.e. lying, about any issue that you think can gain you votes. It wasn’t always so, even within living memory. Anyway, in case there’s still anyone out there who doesn’t understand, we should get rid of all incumbents of whatever ilk they may be. In a more nearly perfect world, we would put them in prison instead of the hapless drug users who are the easy marks for jackbooted thugs.

Pelosi is exhibiting her Gramscianism. To the Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci there are but two classes, hegemonic oppressors and their oppressed victims. Pelosi may be third in line of presidential succession, but she must brandish her victimhood every chance she gets. She can’t afford to be caught as a hegemon of power-structure.

Actually, Nancy Pelosi is a victim of low IQ coupled with high income.

And the Democrats believe they’re going to return to political power, uh, how?

So if one believes oneself to have been a victim at any time, one cannot also believe that one has *overcome* that victimization? It reminds me of the trend in discussion of sexual assault to refer to what used to be known as the “victim” instead as a “survivor.” Republicans have succeeded in making the term “victim” sound so awful and whiny that even people who have suffered physical and emotional trauma don’t want to be associated with it anymore. Good job!

Clarence Thomas believes that he was a victim of discrimination against presumptive affirmative action beneficiaries when he graduated from Yale and had trouble finding a job in BigLaw; a victim of racism when he kept getting pushed toward civil rights work; a victim of a ‘high-tech lynching’ in his confirmation hearings. Does his ascent to the Supreme Court mean he shouldn’t think that either?

My personal favorite was the time Colin Powell was giving a speech and said (quoting from memory) that “It’s almost impossible for a black man to make anything of himself in this country.”

At the time he was chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff and I remember thinking, “Just how much higher does he think he ought to get?”

"Clarence Thomas believes that he was a victim...”

Some backup to this aspersion would be helpful… not that you aren’t credible.

Frankly, I’m guessing your ethnocentrism had you reading the word “victim” when he was only allowing it to become another challenge to overcome.  Easily.

I hope this helps.

PG -

Clarence Thomas “believes he WAS a victim of discrimination...”

Nancy Pelosi says, “I AM a victim of sexism myself all the time...”

CT refers to the past, but NP talks about the present (and presumably the future).  A subtle, but very important distinction.  The gripe with Pelosi is not that she says I was a victim, it is that she claims she is a victim and implies she always will be. 

Everyone is victimized in some form or another throughout their lives, the problem with Pelosi and her ilk is that once a victim, always a victim; others choose to do their best to move forward - hence, the term survivor. 

And if you think Republicans have made “victim” a bad word, then explain to me why Republican tend to think of the victim (and potential future victims) of assaults and murders first, and Democrats turn everything on its head and talk about the criminal as a victim of (daddy did not love him, racism, low IQ, poverty, etc.)…

Let’s just all be victims.  Really, why fight it anymore.  The beauty of it is if we all are victims, none of us are victims.

Actually, Pelosi is a child of privilege.  Had her father not been a Congressman, it’s quite possible she would not even be in Congress?  (That would be the same, were she a man, too).

Self-pity is an ancient and persistent sin.  It is also a consuming one that launches dozens of others.

As a woman, I have encountered sexism. I have never been a victim of it, however. Why back down from a good challenge? I find it highly amusing. When B**** & C*** become the only things someone is left to defend themselves with, I’ve won. I am only a victim of sexism if I allow myself to be.

I’ve also encountered many woman who are sexist. I think it’s actually considered “pc” to bash men. I find it much more prevalent. I fight the good fight here, too. If a woman believes in true equality she will confront ALL forms of sexism and become neither a victim nor a perpetrator.

If Pelosi were actually a victim of sexism, then how could she have worn a burqua while touring Middle Eastern countries? She would have spoken out against the oppression of women while touring there, so as to give women “HOPE” if she were a true opponent and victim of sexism “all the time”. Wouldn’t she? Wouldn’t that be what a real victim would do? She’s the kind of woman I would love to give a real kick in the moonbat.

Republicans have succeeded in making the term “victim” sound so awful and whiny that people don’t want to be associated with it anymore?  What arrant nonsense!

In their compassion compulsion the libs and progressives in this country have completely distorted the English language. Words have meanings--or at least at one time they had meanings, until they were completely debased. “Victim” “rape” “sexual harassment” and other terms are used so loosely that they have become mere common coinage and devoid of any true meaning. This my liberal friends is an entirely self inflicted wound. And it was not the Republicans who did it.

Does anyone have the PC list of who is the greatest victim?  Obama shows race trumps sex in victimhood.  Misogyny obviously trumps misoandry.  Anyone have the top ten victims (Ala Johnny Carson?)by political correctness?

Shivas Irons—for the basis of the “aspersion,” see Justice Thomas’s recent book, as well as speeches he has made before conservative groups, and of course his much-reported remarks at the time of his confirmation hearings. If Thomas thought that the “high-tech lynching” was just another challenge be be easily overcome, he’s awfully whiny about it 17 years later. I don’t agree with you that that is the case. I think he was deeply hurt by that incident and continues to carry scars from it.

RE—Pelosi clearly does see herself as a person who is continuously overcoming the challenge of sexism. I am confused as to why you and several other commenters believe that perceiving oneself as a victim of X means that one can’t also overcome X. Are you under the impression that “victim” is defined as “person who never can overcome an injury done to him”? If so, I refer you to the American Heritage Dictionary: “One who is harmed by or made to suffer from an act, circumstance, agency, or condition.” One can suffer from something and still manage to succeed. My aunt was a victim of cancer for many years and still ran a business and raised a son despite the tremendous harm and suffering it imposed on her.

Mike Myers—I look forward to your explanation of how liberals have debased the word “rape.” Please include examples of acts that Nancy Pelosi considers to be rape but that you do not.

Ron—I like your question. It reminds me of one I posed online recently, where I asked in response to a thread about the mythical Michelle Obama “whitey” video, what names white people found most offensive. People offered some obvious ones—cracker, honky, etc.—but I thought the most accurate was “racist.”