^ “Those People”
Anyone remember Ross Perot’s quote about “those people?” Hewas referring to African-Americans, which of course he is NOT one of “thosepeople.” (He was addressing the NAACP in July 1992, and he referred to them as“you people,” just to be accurate.)
The tone of that phrase is palpable. You can hear him distancing himself from hisaudience with those two little words. And in that distance I read a lot ofnegative things: belittlement, entitlement, disdain, disinterest.
I can one-better Perot’s two-word push: Non-believer.
I overhear coworkers referring to “Non-believers.” There isno “tone” to their voices. They are just talking. But they are both “Believers.”And I am not.
And I hear Ross Perot, and his disdain, in my head.
And then I hear Bill Maher saying he doesn’t say“nonbeliever.” He says “Rationalist.”
Can I get an amen?