Catering to the Base

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES for various high political offices in America, in general, are Trumpists. The ones endorsed by Trump are tending to win in the primaries, and will be opposing Democrats in November, but not in all cases, which might indicate a slight weakening of Trump's grasp on teh Repubican party. Still, Trump's grasp is strong. Most candidates are endorsing Trump's election denial lie, and many of them are vowing to fight and eliminate everything that is "woke" in these United States. Among the far right, woke is the enemy. The only remaining question is: exactly what is "woke"? The term originated, it is widely assumed, within the African-American community, and the term "woke" refers to a state of awareness in which the systemic racism which is so obvioius throughout American culture and society - is acknowledged. Acknowledged and emphasized, rather than denied, as is the tendency throughout conservative America. Hence conservatives have twisted the term to mean progressive social and cultural values in general, including political correctness. Hence, in conservatives states, laws are being passed by far right wing state legislatures making it illegal to mention anything having to do with gay rights or gay culture in public schools, and illegal to teach in public schools that there is a history, past and present, of systemic racism in these United States. Illegal, in other words, to acknowledge and teach the truth. American conservatism, as embodied in and represented by Donald Trump and the Republican party, prefers to deny the existence of racism, gay culture, and climate change, as well as Biden's legitimate election victory over Trump. An ideology of denial and lies. And just like conservatives tried to ridicule and scorn the words "liberal" and "gay" into hiding, so now they are trying to turn the term "woke" into a shameful word, by twisting its meaning. Amereica, as usual, needs exactly the opposite of conservative cultural vallues. America needs to embrace, rather than eliminate "woke", which, after all, is nothing other and nothing more than acceptance of reality.