The notion that indecency has become a hallmark of American politics under Donald Trump's presidency cannot be overstated. According to Jelani Cobb, a renowned author, historian, and staff writer at the New Yorker magazine, this shift towards an environment where civility and respect for opposing views are deemed "indecent" is deeply troubling.
Cobb's book, Three or More Is a Riot: Notes on How We Got Here, chronicles the tumultuous period from Trayvon Martin's killing in 2012 to George Floyd's murder in 2020. The latter event sparked widespread protests and calls for systemic change, but Trump and his allies responded by weaponizing prejudice against marginalized groups.
Trump's base has been successful in mobilizing around a twisted vision of identity politics that promotes white-identity politics as the primary concern. Cobb argues that this approach is fundamentally one-sided, with little regard for the perspectives and experiences of those who do not identify as white. The consequences of this are stark, with institutions such as universities being targeted by Trump's administration.
In Utah, the shooting of Charlie Kirk has served as a catalyst for an even more intense backlash against perceived left-wing radicalism. However, Cobb is unimpressed by this response, instead describing it as hypocritical. The irony lies in the fact that those who claim to be champions of free speech and democracy are also quick to criminalize progressive ideas and liberal or democratic institutions.
Ultimately, Cobb suggests that what we're witnessing is not a departure from but rather a resurgence of autocratic tendencies in America. He argues that this shift towards indecency has become a hallmark of American politics under Trump's presidency, reflecting an unhealthy obsession with identity and a complete disregard for the principles of democracy and social justice.
Despite the ominous tone, Cobb remains cautiously optimistic about the potential for change. While acknowledging that the situation is precarious, he believes that history shows us that there have been times when we've navigated similar crises before and emerged stronger on the other side.
Cobb's book, Three or More Is a Riot: Notes on How We Got Here, chronicles the tumultuous period from Trayvon Martin's killing in 2012 to George Floyd's murder in 2020. The latter event sparked widespread protests and calls for systemic change, but Trump and his allies responded by weaponizing prejudice against marginalized groups.
Trump's base has been successful in mobilizing around a twisted vision of identity politics that promotes white-identity politics as the primary concern. Cobb argues that this approach is fundamentally one-sided, with little regard for the perspectives and experiences of those who do not identify as white. The consequences of this are stark, with institutions such as universities being targeted by Trump's administration.
In Utah, the shooting of Charlie Kirk has served as a catalyst for an even more intense backlash against perceived left-wing radicalism. However, Cobb is unimpressed by this response, instead describing it as hypocritical. The irony lies in the fact that those who claim to be champions of free speech and democracy are also quick to criminalize progressive ideas and liberal or democratic institutions.
Ultimately, Cobb suggests that what we're witnessing is not a departure from but rather a resurgence of autocratic tendencies in America. He argues that this shift towards indecency has become a hallmark of American politics under Trump's presidency, reflecting an unhealthy obsession with identity and a complete disregard for the principles of democracy and social justice.
Despite the ominous tone, Cobb remains cautiously optimistic about the potential for change. While acknowledging that the situation is precarious, he believes that history shows us that there have been times when we've navigated similar crises before and emerged stronger on the other side.
its like theyre tryin to take away all the progress made from 2012-2020 
civility & respect are now "indecent"? 
thats wild. i mean im all for free speech, but not when its used to hurt ppl 
cant we just agree to disagree? 
i feel like theres a lot of division in america right now and i dont think it can be fixed overnight 
what do u guys think about all this? 
Trump's presidency has been a whole different beast from anything I remember growing up... it feels like our politicians are more concerned with scoring points against each other than actually working for us 
Cobb's book sounds like a must-read, gotta understand how we got here and what's at stake. it's crazy how some people get so worked up about identity politics when it's just a bunch of labels 
anyway, I guess the question is where do we go from here? can we find a way to have real conversations without demonizing each other? 
thinkin bout all the pain & hurt ppl are goin thru because of politics 
ugh, cant we just try 2 listen 2 each other & understand we aint all that diff? 
its not just about free speech but also about respect & empathy 
we gotta remember that everyone has a story 2 tell & opinions 2 share 
Cobb's book is a must-read for anyone wonderin' what's goin' on with our country right now 
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. We need more empathy & understanding, not less 
No more childish name-callin' or tryin' to shut down the other side's opinions 
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. And honestly, I'm still hopeful that we can come together as a country & find some common ground 
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... but still, it's crazy how they're trying to turn free speech into a joke 
... Cobb's book sounds like a must-read tho 
. And honestly, can we just take a deep breath and try to see where the other person is coming from? 
It feels like we're getting further apart instead of closer together 
. Cobb makes some valid points about how this whole thing is actually just a resurgence of autocratic tendencies 
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Trump's presidency has turned American politics into a super toxic place where people aren't afraid to speak their minds but end up hurting others in the process 
. I'm with him on thinking that what we're seeing is basically a resurgence of autocratic tendencies under Trump 
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. We need more empathy and understanding, not less 
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The fact that universities are being targeted by Trump's admin is just ridiculous. I mean, I get it, they're trying to silence progressive voices, but newsflash: you can't silence us by silencing our ideas 
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. Trump's base has created this toxic atmosphere where anyone who doesn't conform to their twisted ideology gets bullied or silenced. It's unacceptable and honestly, I'm at a loss for words 
. Meanwhile, institutions like universities are being unfairly targeted by Trump's administration. It's a chilling sight to see our democratic institutions being eroded.
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. We need to start valuing civility over drama, and actually listening to each other's perspectives instead of just shouting at the top of our lungs 
. We need to find a way to disagree without being disagreeable 
it was so peaceful, i felt like i was in another world. anyway, back to politics... have you guys tried that new iced coffee place downtown? 
️ i'm obsessed! i know some ppl might think it's a waste of money, but man, their cold brew is life-changing 