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I despise tribalists. Such a person only cares about his own tribe and does not think about others. Tribalists take pride in the accomplishments of individuals who happen to be members of their tribe. But the tribalists themselves do not contribute to any pride. Rather, tribalists use their tribe’s immutable characteristics, however shallow, for their strength. He warns outsiders to stay in their own lane and ignore the culturally appropriate elements of their tribe. And if outsiders don’t listen, he slanders them as racists or other derogatory terms.
But this is America. I have always believed in the higher American truth that we are much more than tribes. we are individuals. And by learning from each other, we become a better country.
When I heard Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) try to take Rep. Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) to the woodshed during a Congressional hearing on the bill last month, I was shocked. That’s why I felt disgusted with it. His crime? As a white man, he crossed racial lines and quoted Martin Luther King Jr.
SQUAD member President Pressley furious over Republican anti-Day bill: ‘Keep MLK’s name out of your mouth’
Presley reacted angrily to Higgins, telling him not to mention King’s name. “He was a proud and unapologetically black man who fought for equality for black Americans and all marginalized people, and yet his children never mention his name or his When you ask him to stop distorting his work, you are perverting his word and his mission. So all of you, you have the right to your opinion, but you do not have the right to deny the facts. .”
At this point, most white people would have cowered, stammered their apologies, and done everything they could to avoid being vilified as racists. Shelby Steele calls this “white guilt,” which is not actual guilt but the fear of being stigmatized as a racist. Instead, I was impressed by what Higgins did next. He stepped out. He stood his ground. And he immediately fired back.
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Higgins: “I’m grateful to my colleagues, and I’m also grateful to my Democratic colleagues who have exemplified exactly the suppression of freedom that we’re referring to. Please quote anyone who wants to. “That’s my First Amendment, right?” It’s like a white Republican quoting Martin Luther King Jr. and the epitome of oppression that we stand against. Thanks again for illustrating—”
At this point, Presley attempted to interrupt and assert the tribe’s authority over him, but Higgins was having none of it.
“You know, I’m right. You know, I’m right,” Higgins said. “And we quote whoever we want to quote—”
“You’re a disgrace,” Presley interrupted.
Mr Higgins continued. “And we will continue to speak freely because — now I’m a veteran. That’s the country I serve. That’s the Constitution that I swore allegiance to. And that oath. has no expiration date. I will fight for it, and for your right to speak freely, my past life is in it.
Republican Clay Higgins represents Louisiana’s 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Reuters/Edmund D. Fountain)
“Good ladies, I will never be heard if you quote anyone you want to quote. And that, America, embodies exactly the type of institutional oppression that my colleague Mr. Johnson did. I am.” [Michael] I would also like to oppose Cloud’s bill, as I am an original co-sponsor. ”
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What impressed me most about Higgins’ response was that he arrived at American principles. He said that as an American he has the right to quote other Americans. Americans belong to other Americans, not to tribes. Too many people respond to tribalism with tribalism, which only leads to more sectarianism. However, Higgins responded to tribalism with American principles, which is why he decisively won the controversy.
Tribalism is fundamentally anti-American, and the answer to it will always be the American principle that we are a nation of indivisible individuals.
Click here to read more about Pastor Corey Brooks’ story
