This is a pretty common trope. It shows up in all sorts of media. It also shows up in think pieces about ‘what can the Democrats do to rebrand themselves’ from folks who won in (R) districts. Their secret to success? It’s not just talking a about economic issues and actually redressing the wealth drain, or ensuring we have services that benefit everyone. It usually comes down to this message:
What are you walking away from? The trans. The gays. The people who aren’t ‘right’ for one reason or another. That’s the bargain. Give the (R) what they want – let them have anyone in LGBTQ+ as scapegoats – and you’ll get safe passage into the wasteland.
I actually remember it another way: “Just give them the Mexican.”
This is from a not-very-good 1990’s mini-series The Fire Next Time showing an average American family dealing with the ravages of climate change in the far future of 2017. It’s all the standard stereotype family dynamics: The whiny teenage kid who doesn’t understand why his stalwart, upright Dad wants to keep working the family business (on the sinking Louisiana coast) when he could be like his Uncle – rich and living in air conditioned splendor. There’s also the worried Mom, who wonders about the future they’ll have and ‘what about the children?’
Eventually, the family decides to head north – to literally cooler climes and a chance at crossing the border into Canada. But, as they move up through the wildfire ravaged midwest – the family gets separated. The teenage son only manages to survive thanks to a Mexican migrant worker helping him through the worst of the fires and getting injured on the teenager’s behalf.
And then – they run into a local militia. Trapped, the gang gives the kid an offer – hand over the Mexican and they’ll help him out. Unsure, he calls his uncle on his Cell phone. The uncle’s response, “Just them the Mexican.”
It’s not subtle – this entire mini series, even based on my wonky memories is a ‘very special episode’ about global warming that some how manages to make people who are trying to create a zero footprint community eco-fascists – but it still sticks in my head. Every time I hear ‘give up on this marginalized community and you’ll win elections’ it comes out the same way.
I always want to ask these folks, “Well, you’re so willing to sell out the LGBTQ+ community – force them to ensure hate, deprivation, and assault because they don’t match your gender identity – who else will you sell out? Who’s next? How can I trust you that I won’t be the next person you won’t disappear to Gitmo or El Salvador?”
Because you can’t trust them. They will sell you out. They will justify it a hundred different ways – they will say ‘it’s so we can get universal healthcare and tax the rich and lower the price of eggs’ – but they will throw you under the bus the next moment it becomes convenient.
Find someone who is willing to say, ‘by we, I mean all of us’ and support them.
Biomechanoid Blues 