In today’s world, it seems like some things never change, especially in the realm of self-proclaimed progressive politics. Just take a gander at a comedy clip from twenty years ago, featuring characters entangled in a debate that could very well be happening today. The clip showcases a classroom scene rife with cries of discrimination over allegedly oppressive art models, where a variety of grievances are aired, including the lack of diverse representation among the models. The echoes of those theatrics can still be heard today throughout countless college campuses, and just about any place where the self-appointed guardians of social justice gather to tout their moral superiority.
The comedy skit illustrates the same old song and dance: accusations of patriarchy, racism, and homophobia flying around like confetti at a parade. The earnest character in the skit finds himself caught in a whirlwind of accusations, as he’s berated for not understanding the “black anger” being demanded of him. It’s the sort of scene that’s funny until you realize it mirrors real-life happenings where common sense and dialogue get shoved into the back seat, replaced instead by the shrill cries of victimization.
Fast forward to today, and progressive activists still dance to this same tune. They insist society is rigged against them, even amidst the ever-increasing roster of diverse representation in media, politics, and business. Once in a while, they’ll even muster up an apology for offending someone, only to pivot right back into the role of the wounded party. It’s as if the past several decades of progress made by hard-working individuals of all backgrounds simply never happened.
Perhaps what is even more amusing, in an ironic sort of way, is how some of these same activists have become the very thing they claim to despise. Often, they push exclusionary practices under the guise of creating safe spaces or shutdown debates on anything deemed problematic. It’s a type of involvement more about self-serving narratives than genuine societal betterment, yet artfully cloaked in the language of advancement and tolerance.
In the end, what the clip underscores is less about laughs and more about society’s ability to get stuck in narratives that refuse to acknowledge real-time progress. Instead of celebrating the strides made, there’s a tendency among some progressives to conjure up new grievances or simply recycle old ones. The travesty is not the lack of different colored statues, but the lack of different ideas that could lead to actual growth and improvement for everyone. As history has shown, the real danger comes not from those seeking robust dialogue but from those who attempt to silence it under the weight of their own perceptions of injustice.
