As a rural white man, I'm trying to get more "woke". Hope to be one-quarter as woke as Jesus by the time I die. I sometimes lampoon people raised by progressive parents when they are so concerned with social issues it starts to cut into their enjoyment of life. Have to say that all of us who were raised in more traditional or conservative settings are so lucky all those woke people did the work to get rights for women, minorities, and people who are different - otherwise we would be living in a pre-1950's society!
I am fairly progressive and attuned to social justice but found that a lot of far left liberals really went a bit overboard in their expression of it, to the point that even someone like myself started to feel alienated and attacked. I tried to reason with friends who felt they had to pass judgement and cancel anything not to their liking that they might get a better reception if they considered dialing it back, or taking a more nuanced approach. I don’t think I ever got them to understand that the level of criticism and self-righteous judgement was going to have backlash but here we are.. being lashed. I agree it’s important to pay attention to this anti-woke ideology as well as to try to listen to the other side and find commonality and community first.
Agreed. And those on the left were often so militant if one didn’t blindly follow them. There are two topics in which I have a differing opinion than people in the left, but I am afraid to talk about them because I will be socially attacked. So the radicals on both sides end up controlling us “normies” with their fear tactics.
“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of” Confucius 551-479 BC
The authoritarian movement is intent on dumbing-down the population. Its leaders are not only telling people what to think, but they’re also arguing against getting an education by suggesting the teacher or professor is trying to indoctrinate, not inform or enlighten.
I’m very interested in this topic because it appears Trump and his allies have control of the media channels pushing anti-woke themes, especially the fears of woke. Also, as a life-long mentor in my professional and personal life, I know you need a willing and receptive mentee to seed and nurture growth. So we have two issues to deal with: 1) when is the right time to address this (or any issue), and 2) how to get to those who need to hear the truth.
Before I leave, I’m very concerned about this related, specific example: Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, who says firing the woke generals in the military is job #1. Thinking people know his real intention is to eliminate principals related to DEI and, in doing so, undermine the military’s code of conduct. Ultimately, orders to the troops from experienced military leadership will effectively be replaced by orders directly from the Commander in Chief - a person who is unbounded by the best ideals of woke - or the law!
I think this is the nail on the head - keep the population pliable and open to being manipulated.
As for the timing and how to reach those who need to be reached, I guess it’s now and through any opportunity we have. But definitely keeping my eyes open for ideas.
This was helpful. Is the ‘woke’ in the room with us right now? The level of threat being assumed is off the chart propaganda.
In the business world I notice it is ONLY men who are using the term to describe things. And the idea that these (mostly) successful men feel imperilled is so laugh out loud ridiculous, I’m at a loss to explain it. To the point that fully grown men, and business owners to boot, have been melting down in apoplexy over the new Jaguar rebrand and calling it ‘woke’.
Aside from the obvious that woke has become ‘whatever I disagree with’, what it appears to mean politically is: woke=slippery slope to trans. That may feel threatening to traditional men as protectors of women and children.
Personally, I think it’s stirred up propaganda as per your article but I think trans is the issue that a has been weaponised (and counter-weaponised) to effectively destroy whatever usefulness woke was as a rallying cry.
Indeed. Some using it as an excuse to justify pursuing a more exploitative purpose. And, the truth remains that the finance industry is not the ideal place to develop ones sense of civility
I totally agree standing up for ones rights and being against all the social injustices is a necessity. But yielding woke as a weapon enforcing your own ideologies on others is not any different. It's just of a different flavour. You have the far left and the far right extremists dragging the majority of civilized civilians into a fight they didn't ask for. I'm for live and let live and quite content living alongside both. But when any of these extremists involve our kids grandkids and great grand children and trying to enforce their ideologies on those in the middle they will unleash a force neither side can afford. It's this new wokenism of entitlement being taught from a young age and that the world ow them that are at the forefront of all the trouble. Instead they should be taught that nothing is free other than the air we breath. The sooner corporations become small business again the better. Corporations are at the forefront of all the divide which started this nonsense in the first place.
I appreciate these subtleties, especially the explanations of why the concept of "woke" offends some people and threatens the interests of others.
What tends to get my hackles up is the acts of defensiveness about my defectiveness being seen. We can all be defensive when something unsavory about us about us is seen when we would prefer it to be hidden. This is awkward and a bit painful. My first inward reaction is to try to see if that is really true about me, and if so accept the rebuke or exposure with as much grace as I can muster at the moment. Which is sometimes fairly easy and sometimes difficult. Then I make an internal decision to try to do better, although I may or may not admit that to my accuser, depending on whatever.
On excusing people depending on their intention, though, I hold conflicting ideas and feelings within myself. I know that while intentionality is important in understanding and "excusing" some thoughts and actions, harm has still been done whether they intended it or not. Especially if voting is involved.
It does matter whether the person acted merely out of being unaware and intended no harm, or acted out of derision or disgust at other people's differences in attitudes and beliefs, lifestyle and social status from themselves and their families and friends.
I know the pain of realizing one has said something that was hurtful even though the intention was not to hurt.
Of course this holds true for the original offender and for the people attempting to "educate" or "correct" them.
Basically to me while intention is important, the harm is still inexcusable. The person may be excuse able sometimes, but the harm they did is not.
Seems this is the sticky point for many…that ignorance is not an excuse. I agree. It is not an excuse. But how we treat someone who intends to offend should be different to how we treat someone who unintentionally offends.
Very insightful. At the end I thought some organization should hold town hall type discussions between normal people, on both sides of the topic, to discuss these “loaded” topics with a goal to lessen the divide. We have all become so tribal and with many evangelical religious orgs captured by MAGA and Putin the “love your brother/sister as yourself” is not even peddled anymore. These town halls should become a part of our civic society….just a thought. Can we share your work on other social media sites? I would love to help spread your expertise. Cheers!
Woke Movement is leaning towards something more complex than being socially conscious. Is spiritual as I may say… is Supra consciousness, is guidance, is universal laws and science combined with esotericism, is getting in touch with what’s not obvious or easily learned, is getting in touch with your essence, is embracing your shadows, entangling your ego with your psyche, overcoming your karmas by becoming self aware, disciplined and growing stronger in faith. Is the path towards purpose… is being socially conscious/aware/cautious/protected/etc. Is being protected, is consciousness evolution, is multidimensional thinking, is numbers, tarot, astrology, human design, synchronicity, etc… is answers! 🗝️👁️
As a rural white man, I'm trying to get more "woke". Hope to be one-quarter as woke as Jesus by the time I die. I sometimes lampoon people raised by progressive parents when they are so concerned with social issues it starts to cut into their enjoyment of life. Have to say that all of us who were raised in more traditional or conservative settings are so lucky all those woke people did the work to get rights for women, minorities, and people who are different - otherwise we would be living in a pre-1950's society!
Appreciate you sharing your experience, Don. “One-quarter as woke as Jesus”. Love it.
I am fairly progressive and attuned to social justice but found that a lot of far left liberals really went a bit overboard in their expression of it, to the point that even someone like myself started to feel alienated and attacked. I tried to reason with friends who felt they had to pass judgement and cancel anything not to their liking that they might get a better reception if they considered dialing it back, or taking a more nuanced approach. I don’t think I ever got them to understand that the level of criticism and self-righteous judgement was going to have backlash but here we are.. being lashed. I agree it’s important to pay attention to this anti-woke ideology as well as to try to listen to the other side and find commonality and community first.
Agreed. And those on the left were often so militant if one didn’t blindly follow them. There are two topics in which I have a differing opinion than people in the left, but I am afraid to talk about them because I will be socially attacked. So the radicals on both sides end up controlling us “normies” with their fear tactics.
Be interested to know the topics…I am working up to a few myself. DM me.
“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of” Confucius 551-479 BC
The authoritarian movement is intent on dumbing-down the population. Its leaders are not only telling people what to think, but they’re also arguing against getting an education by suggesting the teacher or professor is trying to indoctrinate, not inform or enlighten.
I’m very interested in this topic because it appears Trump and his allies have control of the media channels pushing anti-woke themes, especially the fears of woke. Also, as a life-long mentor in my professional and personal life, I know you need a willing and receptive mentee to seed and nurture growth. So we have two issues to deal with: 1) when is the right time to address this (or any issue), and 2) how to get to those who need to hear the truth.
Before I leave, I’m very concerned about this related, specific example: Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, who says firing the woke generals in the military is job #1. Thinking people know his real intention is to eliminate principals related to DEI and, in doing so, undermine the military’s code of conduct. Ultimately, orders to the troops from experienced military leadership will effectively be replaced by orders directly from the Commander in Chief - a person who is unbounded by the best ideals of woke - or the law!
I think this is the nail on the head - keep the population pliable and open to being manipulated.
As for the timing and how to reach those who need to be reached, I guess it’s now and through any opportunity we have. But definitely keeping my eyes open for ideas.
This was helpful. Is the ‘woke’ in the room with us right now? The level of threat being assumed is off the chart propaganda.
In the business world I notice it is ONLY men who are using the term to describe things. And the idea that these (mostly) successful men feel imperilled is so laugh out loud ridiculous, I’m at a loss to explain it. To the point that fully grown men, and business owners to boot, have been melting down in apoplexy over the new Jaguar rebrand and calling it ‘woke’.
Aside from the obvious that woke has become ‘whatever I disagree with’, what it appears to mean politically is: woke=slippery slope to trans. That may feel threatening to traditional men as protectors of women and children.
Personally, I think it’s stirred up propaganda as per your article but I think trans is the issue that a has been weaponised (and counter-weaponised) to effectively destroy whatever usefulness woke was as a rallying cry.
Indeed. Some using it as an excuse to justify pursuing a more exploitative purpose. And, the truth remains that the finance industry is not the ideal place to develop ones sense of civility
The trans issue does seem a bit pivotal.
I totally agree standing up for ones rights and being against all the social injustices is a necessity. But yielding woke as a weapon enforcing your own ideologies on others is not any different. It's just of a different flavour. You have the far left and the far right extremists dragging the majority of civilized civilians into a fight they didn't ask for. I'm for live and let live and quite content living alongside both. But when any of these extremists involve our kids grandkids and great grand children and trying to enforce their ideologies on those in the middle they will unleash a force neither side can afford. It's this new wokenism of entitlement being taught from a young age and that the world ow them that are at the forefront of all the trouble. Instead they should be taught that nothing is free other than the air we breath. The sooner corporations become small business again the better. Corporations are at the forefront of all the divide which started this nonsense in the first place.
Think many feel as you do - we’re not extremists, merely want to get along and have a decent life.
Or the inverse - The Fascist threat is very real, yet the sleeping brainwashed limbic sheeple are clueless.
Hard to argue with that!
I appreciate these subtleties, especially the explanations of why the concept of "woke" offends some people and threatens the interests of others.
What tends to get my hackles up is the acts of defensiveness about my defectiveness being seen. We can all be defensive when something unsavory about us about us is seen when we would prefer it to be hidden. This is awkward and a bit painful. My first inward reaction is to try to see if that is really true about me, and if so accept the rebuke or exposure with as much grace as I can muster at the moment. Which is sometimes fairly easy and sometimes difficult. Then I make an internal decision to try to do better, although I may or may not admit that to my accuser, depending on whatever.
On excusing people depending on their intention, though, I hold conflicting ideas and feelings within myself. I know that while intentionality is important in understanding and "excusing" some thoughts and actions, harm has still been done whether they intended it or not. Especially if voting is involved.
It does matter whether the person acted merely out of being unaware and intended no harm, or acted out of derision or disgust at other people's differences in attitudes and beliefs, lifestyle and social status from themselves and their families and friends.
I know the pain of realizing one has said something that was hurtful even though the intention was not to hurt.
Of course this holds true for the original offender and for the people attempting to "educate" or "correct" them.
Basically to me while intention is important, the harm is still inexcusable. The person may be excuse able sometimes, but the harm they did is not.
Seems this is the sticky point for many…that ignorance is not an excuse. I agree. It is not an excuse. But how we treat someone who intends to offend should be different to how we treat someone who unintentionally offends.
It’s like the word has been used so much. It has lost its original meaning.
Very insightful. At the end I thought some organization should hold town hall type discussions between normal people, on both sides of the topic, to discuss these “loaded” topics with a goal to lessen the divide. We have all become so tribal and with many evangelical religious orgs captured by MAGA and Putin the “love your brother/sister as yourself” is not even peddled anymore. These town halls should become a part of our civic society….just a thought. Can we share your work on other social media sites? I would love to help spread your expertise. Cheers!
This is an actual workable solution. You should write a piece about it. Reconnect with social consciousness through social connections.
Yes, you can share - it’s all in the public domain.
I will put some thoughts down. I will share this piece on Bluesky. Thank you!
Feels hopeless to ever improve anything!
Thank you for this. Being “un-woke” must have its appeal, but why?
Path of least resistance, instant gratification, bandwagon
Excellent insight
Appreciate your shared reflection. Thanks.
“ I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.” Hafiz Sufi Mystic 14th Century
Woke Movement is leaning towards something more complex than being socially conscious. Is spiritual as I may say… is Supra consciousness, is guidance, is universal laws and science combined with esotericism, is getting in touch with what’s not obvious or easily learned, is getting in touch with your essence, is embracing your shadows, entangling your ego with your psyche, overcoming your karmas by becoming self aware, disciplined and growing stronger in faith. Is the path towards purpose… is being socially conscious/aware/cautious/protected/etc. Is being protected, is consciousness evolution, is multidimensional thinking, is numbers, tarot, astrology, human design, synchronicity, etc… is answers! 🗝️👁️