The analysis is wrong because the underlying assumption is wrong. People do not follow pundits or amateurs because of perceived accuracy. They follow because of entertainment value. Confident, blowhard posts are far more entertaining than carefully worded, accurate ones.
"that "cultural feature" of the white American populace"
Discrimination is everywhere; it's how human beings navigate a highly complex world in which thoughtful, careful evaluation of every individual a person encounters is impossible. This is a good thing as far as it enables us to move through a crowded environment and a bad thing if it spoils our ability to judge a person on his merits.
I went to school with a Japanese guy called Hiro. He was, by all appearances, a very nice guy. One day, though, he shocked me by stating very matter-of-factly that he disliked Koreans. "They smell bad" he explained.
In my conversation with Europeans, Asians, South Americans, North Americans of all colors and creeds, etc, etc I have found that racism is a human condition. Americans make an easy target because they are outspoken and because it's pretty much open season on them right now but they don't have a monopoly on racist attitudes.
Discrimination is everywhere; it's how human beings navigate a highly complex world in which thoughtful, careful evaluation of every individual a person encounters is impossible. This is a good thing as far as it enables us to move through a crowded environment and a bad thing if it spoils our ability to judge a person on his merits.
I went to school with a Japanese guy called Hiro. He was, by all appearances, a very nice guy. One day, though, he shocked me by stating very matter-of-factly that he disliked Koreans. "They smell bad" he explained.
In my conversation with Europeans, Asians, South Americans, North Americans of all colors and creeds, etc, etc I have found that racism is a human condition. Americans make an easy target because they are outspoken and because it's pretty much open season on them right now but they don't have a monopoly on racist attitudes.