When I was in college we raged against the war, some sincerely and some because it was the thing to do. Around the fringes (for whites, that is) it was also about race but I always had the feeling that Blacks knew in their hearts that whites were fair weather friends. Toward the end of those years it was about gender and the environment.
Class was never the focus. It could have been different. If there was anything that characterized the war it was race and class. Minorities and working class kids fought the war and paid a huge price. Nevertheless, the movement against the war never really attempted to enlist working class and poor people. After all, they were not taking semesters off to study in Spain and they might have short hair because they did not have the safety net that permitted rebellion. (Is there was way to spell rebellion with an even smaller "r" or maybe it was just a middle and upper class temper tantrum.)
I've never really regarded the women's movement has having much to do with class, except by coincidence. Yes, data about wage differentials sweep in class issues but, for the most part, it is not what feminist focus on. Let's face it, the elitists who write about feminist issues are mainly interested in middle class and upper class women. Thelma, a single mother of 2 in need of dental work and who cannot afford to see any doctor other than the 5 listed in her plan (if she has one) is hardly the subject of many feminist law review articles.
And, what exactly was the plan environmentalists had for coal miners once the mines were closed. Or were they just collateral damage not to be worried about since they hardly count anyway.
Class has always been of very limited interest to liberals and Democrats. After all, low class people are not interesting, have no eloquent spokes people, have not been to Europe, do not read the New Yorker, might have some acne scars, may be missing a tooth, wear clothes that are too loud or faded. and you would not want your son or daughter marrying one.
Feel that pain in your ass that looks like Donald Trump? Guess what all you do gooders of the past 50 years. You just got a shot to the gut compliments of the people you ignored and walked over.
I once asked a friend why Law Professors were not more interested in issues of class. His answer, "It's too important."
2 comments:
Missing teeth. That's a good metric. I bet that almost all professors have more friends who are of a different race, culture, religion, sexual orientation, or nation of birth than have missing teeth. Heck, forget friends, I bet most come in to contact with or employ or contract or worship with folks of a different race, culture, religion, sexual orientation, or nation of birth than those with missing teeth.
Without in anyway being facetious, go to a place where the waitresses all have missing teeth. Chances are, it will be friendlier than the place you are going to now.
I think I can hear Karl Marx chuckling and saying, "See, I told you so. It's all about class struggle and the exploitation and alienation of wage labor." I really do think that we have been experiencing the rise of the New Class to ruling class, a rise that has left a great many Americans in dire straits.
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