The Democrats have a “wokeness” problem, and it appears that they’re finally realizing it. Yes, I know those of us on the right might be skeptical, but if you look closely, you can see that many on the left are pushing back against the “woke” crowd and their destructive embrace of cancel culture. 

Let’s look at the current field of Democratic presidential hopefuls. None of the current frontrunners fit into the left’s intersectional hierarchy of oppression. In fact, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), who probably had the highest number of intersectional “How Oppressed Am I” points, was forced to suspend her campaign because she couldn’t get enough support. 

Other candidates like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) regularly touted the tenets of “woke” politics. She routinely pointed out that she is a privileged white woman and vowed to reach out to “white women in the suburbs who voted for Trump and explain to them what white privilege actually is.” Not surprisingly, her campaign went nowhere. 

Then, we have Beto O’ Rourke, who also emphasized his privilege as an Irish white guy pretending to be Hispanic. Not only did he propose a plan to confiscate assault weapons, but he also pandered to the LGBT crowd. He was so “woke” that he threatened to remove a tax-exempt status for religious organizations that oppose gay marriage. “There can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break for anyone or any institution, any organization that denies the full human rights and the full civil rights of every single one of us,” he said at a town hall. Like Gillibrand, he failed to garner enough support. 

Next, we can also look at the recent backlash against “woke” culture that is happening on the left. TV talk show host Bill Maher who isn’t exactly known for his right-wing opinions routinely bashes the “woke” culture of the left. 

Even former President Barack Obama has gone public on the matter, slamming both “wokeness” and cancel culture. During a speech at an Obama Foundation event, he said: “This idea of purity and you’re never compromised and you’re always politically ‘woke’ and all that stuff — You should get over that quickly.” Obama also warned the Democratic Party against moving farther to the left. But there are also other media figures on the left, like journalist Tim Pool who also pushes back against the “woke” element.

Despite the best efforts of people like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and her ilk, it seems that the “woke” movement is losing steam. If that’s the case, it’s great for the Democrats and the rest of America. Imagine what American politics would be like without the woke police constantly telling us what we can and cannot say. What if we didn’t have to hear their incessant wokesplaining whenever we transgress the holy precepts of the Church of the Woke? Perhaps the left is as sick of it as the rest of us. 

It’s not unrealistic. Yes, it may seems that we are constantly bombarded by “woke” zealots. News of people getting canceled appears to be all over the place. But this is not because the majority of those on the left actually subscribe to this soceital cancer; rather, it is because this group tends to be the loudest and get the most coverage in the media. However, what we see on our screens might not be the reality on the ground. 

A study conducted last year titled “The Hidden Tribes of America” revealed that only 14% of the entire population — both on the left and the right — fall into the extremes on the right and the left. That means 76% of Americans are somewhere in the middle, not subscribing to the more extreme elements of the political spectrum. 

The reason why there will always be pushback against “wokeism” is that it is the antithesis of what most Americans of all political persuasions believe. It is a puritanical philosophy that demonizes anyone who transgresses their laws. I found an article by writer Erina Kim-Eubanks, a leftist who eventually rejected the worst forms of “woke” culture:

“I’ve seen conference speakers immediately be judged for how “woke” they are, and be either praised or dismissed simply on the rhetoric that they employ. I’ve seen friends of mine be silenced and even be treated as “beyond redemption” when they made a statement or did something that made them fail the “wokeness” litmus test. I’ve seen an increased value on saying the right things and using politically correct language, and less value on living with faithfulness and integrity over the long haul. I’ve seen the erasure of spaces to make mistakes and to learn from them.”

Most Americans understand that working to fight legitimate injustices that occur in our society is admirable. There is absolutely nothing wrong with opposing racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry; it’s a commendable endeavor. But “wokeness” has become a social phenomenon that is now used as a form of control to enforce adherence to the tenets of the philosophy. It is just another tool to enforce a type of cultural totalitarianism and shame people into obedience to the progressive left. 

It is no surprise that resistance to “wokeness” is occurring. It is the inevitable response to any movement that seeks to force compliance through fear. Hopefully, the sensible crowd will win this conflict on the left. If not, it could make our already tense political discourse even more toxic. 

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

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