Republican Platforms and white nationalism
Doing research on the two main political parties in this country, proved to be interesting and informative. I consider myself independent and liberal, though I used to be a Democrat. I’m realizing that I don’t fit neatly into any political party, considering that I’m a Christian and a free thinker, I think that’s a good thing. No party can be one hundred percent trustworthy, and both have their issues, flaws, and their are things I disagree with. Both parties were actually linked to the KKK. The Klan at one time was largely made up of Southern Democrats who hated Republicans, for their anti-slavery stance and etc. Then the Klan went through an ideological shift (1960’s), where they changed their support to the Republican Party. The overwhelming majority of Republicans are white and push for white nationalist interests, whether they know it or not.
While researching I came across the Klan Constitution. In this document, the Klan spoke about protecting and defending the Constitution. It also spoke of new members being in favor of the white man’s government, being opposed to negro equality (social/political); lastly being in favor of the enfranchisement and emancipation of the white men of the south; as well as restitution of rights both civil, political and to property. It was the ideology of the Klan, that the Republic was established by white men, for white men alone, so it should not fall into the hands of an inferior and degraded race. They also supported violence to support white rule, as self defense. You can see the similarity in Republican circles that love to talk about blue lives matter, they justify the brutality and violence of the police against people of color. Those in court positions and juries with Republican ideologies acquit the police officers that kill unarmed blacks and minorities and always claim self defense, that has its foundations in white supremacist organizations like the KKK.
Every time, I hear a Republican give me excuses about why they support a racist, narcissistic, incompetent leader like Trump, I inwardly cringe inside, like someone who just watched a gory scene from a horror film. Willful ignorance and willful blindness is the flavor of the day , I guess with these types of supporters. Emotionalism clouds the very judgement of their reasoning, and I find myself wishing that they would remove their heads from their asses. Trump is not Jesus Christ or some type of white savior, who will save this country, so people need to stop worshipping him, like he’s the golden calf. Idolatry is a sin, and no one should be putting man before God; or trading morals and ethics for political views. I saw a poster, posted online which read: Some Burn Crosses, While others Hide behind them. Using religion as a cover or justification for godless, wicked behavior has its roots in European colonization, from the days of slavery. The days where the slaves were handed a Slave bible with portions. of the bible missing on purpose, so they wouldn’t get any ideas about resistance or being free from oppression. The days where colonizers would rape, beat their slaves; attend lynchings , as a spectator sport, sexually abuse children and then go to church on Sundays, like nothing happened. Religion and Christianity is used by some racists, as a hiding tool for evil. I see the duplicity and hypocrisy and it sickens me and fills me with rage. Angry for the evils being perpetuated, angry for what was done to some of my ancestors, angry that people continue their charade of religion and continue on in their sins ,of dehumanization of minorities.
Most Republicans do not evaluate what they are truly supporting and what they believe, or where its roots came from. In 1915, William Simmons (ex-minister) created a new Ku Klux Klan dedicated to 100 % Americanism & white Protestantism. The new Klan was reinvented as a new organization, stripped of vigilantism and dressed up in Christian virtue and patriotic pride. It was to be the savior of a nation in danger, the way to reestablish the cultural dominance of white people. The enfranchisement of the African American community and immigration, threatened this dominance, which meant America was no longer great. H.W. Evans, 1st Imperial Wizard of the Klan, wanted to restore the U.S, to its former glory. The Klan spoke a message of Christianity, white supremacy, and hypernationalism. They found an audience. These concepts sound very if not completely similar to the political rhetoric of Donald Trump (Make America Great Again), white militias, and white evangelical Christians and conservatives of today. They often try to use their Christianity (Protestant values) to justify political views, but historically those views are founded in racism and white supremacy. Religion should not be misused in that manner, should not be used to manipulate or espouse white supremacy over non-white citizens.
Xenophobia, fear of immigrants from different religions led to the creation of nativist political parties. Those who were very pro-americanism and anti-foreigner. Look up the Know Nothings of the 1850’s, as well as the Immigration Policy of 1924, with racist rules; prevented Asian immigration until about 1965. Donald Trump supposedly fueled rhetoric that Mexicans were criminals, and that security needed to be beefed up at the border wall. That idea that immigrants bring crime or disorder is nothing new. The lynching of Leo Frank because of Anti-Semitism, and anti-Irish panics of the past illustrate this misplaced idea and harmful stereotype.
The prevalence of white militias (Proud Boys,Good Ol Boys,etc) walking around armed , as well as the crime of Kyle Rittenhouse shooting/killing protestors, also illustrates a nativist and white supremacist mindset. Historically , white vigilantes thought it was their duty to protect towns. With the support of law enforcement, police officers, and laws of the town/state then attacked, stoned, drew guns on, harassed black people and some other minorities ; when they would drive thru or travel through a gray, sundown, or all-white town/vicinity. Does this sound at all familiar? It sounds very familiar. The white militias think its their job to patrol areas, land or places under the guise of safety. However the real reasoning and mindset behind it, is in fact white supremacy. They see minorities and their fight for civil rights as a threat to their white dominance, and will attack, kill anyone who threatens it, even attacking and white allies of these minority civil rights movements. I’m beginning to see that there is nothing new under the sun. History repeats itself in different ways.
In the past, the KKK used rhetoric in a way that appealed to white voters. They influenced them to vote for white candidates that favored segregationalist and pro-white policies. They used to intimidate, attack and even lynch black voters , so that their political interests would not count. There were more whites voting, therefore the whites had more power and political sway. This also sounds familiar .The voter suppression tactics, though no longer extremely violent, like in the past, still end up having a similar effect today. The passing of laws to make voting more of an obstacle for minorities, the changing of rules at the last minute, the shutting down of voting polls, and etc are all history repeating itself, in contemporary time.
