The race card...?

Paul Krugman's May 25th editorial in the NY Times (Divided We Stand) mentioned the 'race card'...it got me thinking. What is it?

I've come to the conclusion that it is an overused and meaningless rhetorical construction that needs to be purged from our political vocabulary.

While researching on the 'tubes I noticed that Krugman's definition is different from others I encountered. He uses the 'race card' to mean politicizing race. All the other definitions I found described the term as unjustly accusing your attackers of being racist in order to shirk responsibility for your actions.

Krugman's definition shows an interesting evolution in political thought. According to the second definition only a minority can pull a 'race card.' Racism against the majority has no doubt always existed, but it didn't matter because the majority was in power.

However, now there are tools that have institutionalized discrimination (a form of racism) against the majority i. e. affirmative action. These tools strip away majority privileges, turning the majority into just another interest group. I read an article (unfortunately I can't find it!) that describes how the 2008 primary campaign has recognized this transformation with white working class voters. Hillary is sticking up for them as subjugated group.

But that definition doesn't work when whites are still the overwhelming majority. One alternative is the politicization of race. Now Obama supporters can accuse Clinton of playing the 'race card.'

If find this definition absurd. Race is political. Why? Because Racism is a power struggle. It inevitably leads to one group subjugating another (hidden discrimination as a lighter form and slavery as a more extreme form).

It is meaningless for political supporters of any candidate to decry politicizing something which is inherently political.

I think that the real problem is politicians using race to obfuscate issues. Race is an emotional shortcut. Race deters rational thought because of the complex and deeply personal feelings it arouses. But crying foul and hurling the 'race card' at individuals using race for their own gain simply adds to the existing smoke and mirrors. Flinging this epithet only injects more emotional rhetoric into the already hazy arena.

Throwing down the 'race card' is counterproductive and will perpetuate racist thoughts because it discourages discourse. Accusing someone of using the 'race card' is really done out of fear. Fear to tread across centuries of pain, guilt, indignation, disgust, and incomprehension. Fear to open up and accept responsibility for the past and present (something majority and minority need to do).

In the good spirit of George Orwell we must cast this meaningless phrase into the rhetorical rubbish bin.

In its most benign form this phrase is a wearied accusation, but underneath the mask of racial equality this phrase actually perpetuates racism.