Wokism, Cancel Culture, David Rovics and myself as Green Party candidate for Congress
I currently have had two FB warnings neither of which make any sense or violate any FB guidelines, but the appeal process is a joke! One more warning and I am banned for an unknown period of time. I have had to use special efforts to avoid censorship on certain political issues FB and other social media are now enforcing on behalf of government/corporate interests that would squash free speech and whistleblowers who would challenge their narratives!
As I am running for Congress again, I intend to tell it like it is! I try to do a lot of research behind my opinions, especially on controversial issues! I hold to my researched opinions until proven wrong! However, as I am more of a researcher with a poor memory rather than an accomplished speaker, I am sure I will mis-speak on many occasions especially as I intend to challenge some established narratives. I will be ignoring the politician’s “Golden Rule” never talk about controversial issues and if asked then skillfully deflect to something else! I won’t mind being corrected and will apologize as I think is appropriate, but I won’t accept outrageous attacks that ignore my 50+ years of progressive activism! Likewise, I will not join in superficial attacks on others who may have misspoken or have irritated some people’s sensibilities! I say, look at the total person as no one is perfect in everything! Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!
Woke was originally a term to signify awareness of racism and oppression of African-Americans in general, especially by the police. Alt-right extremists weaponized the word as a way to troll activists, and undermine their movement. However, what was even more common is extreme-right trolls using the term to mock white activists who supported the BLM cause. What was once a term for people who were aware of social issues, has now become a negative pejorative. The social media backlash is also an integral part of defining what is woke culture. It has come to refer to the disproportionate public outcry against anyone who doesn’t do the appropriate amount of activism. Some say how ‘woke culture’ has gone too far. It is no longer a way to point out problematic behaviors. Rather, it’s now an excuse to lynch anyone who isn’t an absolutely perfect activist. In an era where police brutality and social and economic equality (exist), taking a stance is more important than ever. You shouldn’t allow something like a negative buzzword to turn you off championing a good cause. [MEK Note: Edited from https://www.freewordcentre.com/what-is-woke-culture/ ] Cancel Culture is a way of behaving in a society or group, especially on social media, in which it is common to completely reject and stop supporting someone because they have said or done something that offends you. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/…/english/cancel-culture
In this article’s case a long-time progressive singer David Rovics has been attacked by some on the left for something he said that others didn’t like! Here are some partial comments of others made under this article.
That’s what happens with free speech. Once you take it away from one person, pretty soon they cancel everyone except one voice / message.
Free speech doesn’t seem like such an absolute to me. We may be able to exercise it, but if its distribution is suppressed do we really have it?
We can freely say we’re against a war, or in favor of universal healthcare, as long as the side that says those things (is) respectively inevitable or “unrealistic” (to ever) retain control of the overall narrative.
WOKE culture is CAPITALISM driving wedges between the oppressed—Divide and rule—idiocy reigns supreme
Cancel culture is like the enforcement arm of wokeism. It’s mob mentality unleashed by the anonymity of the Internet. It’s a tool anyone with a social media account can use, so it sinks to a truly scurrilous lowest common denominator.
Wokeism, because of its internal inconsistencies, is very vulnerable to free speech, so cancelation is an obvious choice.
I have been censored, insulted and ostracized more in the last couple of years than ever. If you are being your true self and this ever happens it is a sign that you are disturbing entrenched powers of oppression. They need to be disturbed. It’s what you were put here to do. They will try to make your life as difficult as possible. Keep disturbing. They will drag your name through the mud. Keep disturbing. The power they rely on is temporal and unsustainable. The power that you speak from has traveled down the ages through the likes of Joe Hill, Woodie Guthrie and countless others around the world who have bravely struggled for peace, justice and freedom in their own particular ways. It is a fire unquenchable. Stay strong in the fire.
Anatomy of a Cancellation
Response by David Rovics to his cancellation at Portland Worker’s Rally
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Some Comments to my post and Article above
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- D**** Michael, you took a wrong turn, imo, w anti-vaccination stance. Also, though I have enjoyed Rovics music and shows, he’s platforming fascists, i.e., Matthew heimbach, and appears to advocate for red brown alliance which I wonder if you do, too. Red-brown alliance is Socialist/Fascist alliance.
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- Michael Kerr D****, when you allow government and corporate media to demand your obedience & allow them to censor alternative information you better do some investigation on your own because they are hiding something! https://progressiveissuesblog.wordpress.com/…/investig… something!
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- D**** I’m not smearing anyone, just stating a fact. David Rovics believes in dialogue and discussion w fascists. He, in fact, had M. Heimbach, leader of the a fascist group I won’t name on his podcast which he has apologized for and I accept however many others don’t which needs to be respected. You should look into it more. Your crusade for free speech is enabling fascists. Your crusade against vaccinations is spreading misinformation and dangerous. I’m not trying to change your mind, Michael. I realize that is futile.
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- Michael Kerr D****, Free speech enables fascists? Now I am against vaccinations because I promote truths that were banned and censored. If you care about the truth, really take a look at my research. It is quite extensive. Then we can discuss specifics. About the other issue. If David Rovics interviewed a supposed fascist among, I image many other interviews and other things he has done in his life, so what! That’s cancel culture cultism! I condemn it fully and you should also!
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- Michael Kerr Mauro Oliveira, I just did the research to uncover the truth! That led me to among other truths that vaccine mandates were not only unnecessary and in fact criminal in many ways! But my opinion is based on research of the “censored” as opposed to the promoted narrative that we were allowed to see and hear!
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- Mauro Oliveira Michael Kerr, I did the same. I’m a big boy I can make my own decisions but I don’t mind hearing what all side have to say. Rogan shows that offended young What’s the most public cardiologist in the world and the scientist who not only created the technology the mRNA is based on but has 12 Patents. But nobody wants me to hear them Who are already vaccinated and insistent that I do so even though I’ve had Covid twice. My mother has three shots and has had Covid. I know someone who had three shots and had Covid three times. And my mother and my brother had horrible adverse reactions and my brother still can’t raise his arm six months later. John Hopkins studies close the lockdowns out the door, Israel has retracted the green card, England have stopped all mandates and 12 European nations have a greed the scale it all back by mid month. 20% of Canadian truck drivers are called Fringe by a man who wore black face three times in public and it’s still oppressing Indian in the western side of the continent. Thanks for the heads up on rovic. The fact that he’s creating controversy for whatever reason makes me want to hear him. Much better than listening to campaign promises by the left that clearly we’re not lies.
- Michael Kerr Here is some research on David Rovics!
- David Rovics’ Songs of Social Significance Website https://www.davidrovics.com/
- Here is the song David was not allowed to sing at the Portland Worker’s Rally because of “cancel culture” https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-sjg9c-119921e
- David Rovics – Wikipedia David Stefan Rovics (born April 10, 1967) is an American indie singer/songwriter. His music concerns topical subjects such as the 2003 Iraq war, anti-globalization, and social justice issues. Rovics has been an outspoken critic of former President George W. Bush, the Republican Party, John Kerry, and the Democratic Party.Rovics is critical of the United States government’s policies and claims that the “U.S. government’s foreign policy represents U.S. corporate interests” and that “the U.S. government does not like democracy either at home or abroad.”Although some of Rovics’ work is not self-published, and much of it is commercially distributed, Rovics has made all of his recorded music freely available as downloadable mp3 files. He encourages the free distribution of his work by all non-profit means to promote his work and spread political messages, and speaks out against websites or programs like iTunes that charge money for downloading his songs. Rovics has also advocated the performing of his songs at protests and demonstrations and has made his sheet music and lyrics available for download. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rovics
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