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An ad campaign designed to get local folks thinking about east-west connectivity in Bend and encourage participation in a transportation survey has run afoul of cancel culture. The billboard that loomed over the intersection of 9th and Wilson depicted a covered wagon trekking across the high desert, with the tagline: “Traveling East to West still tough?” and a link to a the survey.
Because some folks complained that the billboard was culturally and historically insensitive, the City of Bend scrambled to remove and replace it.
Sign of the times.
Central Oregon Daily News reported that:
City Manager Eric King acknowledged Tuesday night (alluding) to the western expansion and colonization was a misstep.
“There were (sic) displacement of native peoples and that is real; and that is a mistake on our part to sort of acknowledge that,” King said. “So, we are taking that image down.”
That’s a lot of cultural freight for one covered wagon to haul.
*
The ever-tightening purity spirals that come with this kind of performative “wokeness” make it very difficult to push back. One cannot plead benign intent — intent is irrelevant. If I am offended, you have clearly given offense and the only remedy is to reverse the offending act. Questioning the validity of my interpretation or the suggestion there might be other valid interpretations is itself offensive. Your inability to grasp that a statement is insensitive is prima facie evidence of your insensitivity. Resistance is futile.
When the offended are aroused, there is no opportunity for dialogue; it’s acquiesce or face the wrath of the mob. And sometimes even the most lugubrious apology or craven climbdown won’t save you.
We have stepped through a looking glass and tumbled down a rabbit hole and landed in a wonderland where the Queen of Hearts is constantly shrieking “Off with their heads!”
Former President Barack Obama recently offered some wise words on the subject of performative wokeness:
“I do get a sense sometimes now among certain young people, and this is accelerated by social media, that the way of me making change is to be as judgmental as possible about other people and that’s enough.
“Like if I tweet or hashtag about how you didn’t do something right, or used the wrong verb, then I can sit back and feel pretty good about myself because: ‘Man, did you see how woke I was? I called you out.’”
He’s right, of course, but he’s speaking in his patented calm, measured tones in the midst of a howling hurricane. At the risk of a dangerous insensitivity, one might question whether those who engage in these paroxysms of performative wokeness and feed a voracious cancel culture are really interested in change at all.
One of the citizens who took issue at the billboard told the Bend City Council:
“History matters… When we tell a history that is incomplete, we are lying to ourselves and we are asking others to believe our lies. And it’s not City Council, it’s not our City Manager, it’s not one individual, it’s all of us.”
We’ll set aside the question as to how it might be possible to tell a complete history on a billboard and acknowledge that, yes, history matters. It would be wonderful if our society actually wanted to explore our history in all its glorious complexity and contradiction. The history of America’s westward expansion — like frontier history across the globe — is a tale of epic heroism and fortitude AND a tale of duplicity, displacement and tragedy.
This silly incident in Bend moves no one any closer to engaging with that fraught history. Quite the opposite: The fallout from this sort of episode makes people and institutions shy away from even alluding to historical themes for fear of inadvertently giving offense and finding one’s head on the Queen of Hearts’ chopping block.
Matthew says
I doubt it does American Indians any good to be offended by this. They’re still stuck living in reserverations and ghettos. But I bet the people who are offended feel good about themselves.
Reese Crawford says
Great post but I’m still hung up on the wagon for a different reason. The back looks like a nicely made fold out table and I would wager a guess that there’s a hand crafted chuck box behind that. I want to shake the hand of the craftsman that either built it or restored it and talk to the teamster driving it.
Right? It’s a nice rig. I am awaiting the outrage of the oxen lobby, though. I mean, why omit them?
The history of America’s westward expansion — like frontier history across the globe — is a tale of epic heroism and fortitude AND a tale of duplicity, displacement and tragedy.
There’s that word again. The OR police will be coming for you, Jim.
Odd how we’re so modern and the words “multi-task” and “multi-process” get tossed around–yet in some factions, black & white, one or the other, you can’t possibly mix-&-match or exist-in-the-middle-or-outside are demanded.
Yep. “Non-binary” seems to be all the rage—- except when it comes to thinking.
lane batot says
Can’t ANYTHING just be a SYMBOL for something anymore, without making it into a cultural no-no? What if they had used my old beat up pick-up truck(now labeled a “salvage vehicle” by my insurance company)–which would also answer the question posed as to why you are probably safe from me just dropping in one day(from the Far East) for a visit!? Then only I could be offended, and as a (mostly) white Southerner, no one would care! We’uns in the South can serve as a symbol for anything negative, and not offend anyone else–a truly noble purpose! We’uns and also the Irish, I should add.….
TJ says
My oldest son met a Chumash — wrestler when he was a freshman, first year high school wrestler. He was also part of a Northern California tribe and had property on both reservations.
A bit of history and this isn’t the standard “White guy” disclaimer — it’s pertinent especially given the false perceptions towards those in my profession.
My step dad was Black; my step mom’s side of the family is Greek, Mexican and Aussie Spanish and I don’t give a s**t what culture you are. Different cultures are cool and interesting in many cases, just don’t force whatever your gig is on me if I’m not interested is all I ask. We all came from somewhere else for the most part.
I raised my boys to look at behavior, not skin tone, or language and that is my expectation for all of them 100% of the time. My kid hit it off with his new mentor, especially after the prerequisite new freshman wrestling room early season beat-downs. My son kept coming back and they are still friends today.
He told my boy in essence, “Man has been conquering man for hundreds of years and my people did the same thing. Warrior tribes raided non-warrior tribes long before the first Spaniard or White settler arrived. If we could have ran all of you off, we would have. But we didn’t and here we are. It sucks, the casino money helps for some, but it’s not clean money. I’ll keep my land regardless and if if we ever had the chance to take it back — we would. It’s what man does.”
If we aren’t able to talk to each other in an unfiltered respectful manner and can’t avoid being “triggered” by mere words, learning from one another and at a minimum understanding another’s perspective will never occur.
I spent 7 days intermittently lost on my mountain bike above 8500’ a week ago in the Sequoias and on my way up, stopped in Kernville for a beer. Outlaw motorcycle gang member(local), retired lawman(local), construction contractor(local), some guy from Texas trying to figure his marriage, life and kids out and another police sergeant (me). The hour spent nursing an “805” with some agrees to disagree and a few cheers on that, was one of the highlights of the trip.
We can agree to disagree and still share a beer and conversation without hitting each other with bike locks and crapping in our collective nest.
Yep. The hyper focus on “identity” keeps us hung up on color of skin rather than content of character.
TJ says
To finish my broader thoughts and current frame of mind — this is from last Tuesday night. A press release; I was there and put hands on this suspect. A fellow sergeant found him and took him into custody at gunpoint.
What I cannot share and as traumatic as this was for this victim, are chilling details of what this almost was. This “victim” was nobody’s victim that night and the will to fight and essentially prevent something much worse, inspired all of us on scene.
An infuriatingly broken criminal justice system aside, this person experienced a “real problem “ that night. This scenario is a real problem folks. Burning your town down for a speaker you don’t agree with = not so much.…
Hopefully they keep him in prison this time…
MEDIA RELEASE
On Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at approximately 6 P.M. several Santa Barbara Police Officers and Santa Barbara Fire personnel responded to the vicinity of La Cumbre Plaza Mall for a report of an assault-in-progress at a store within the mall.
The initial investigation concluded that a suspect, now identified as Marshal Anthony Coates, age 50, behaved erratically outside the store then entered the business with a lone-employee. That employee sensed danger and attempted to immediately retreat. However, the approximately 6’3”, 250 pound Coates advanced toward the victim and an unprovoked violent assault ensued. The victim was eventually able to exit the confines of the store and seek help from an adjoining business. By-standers then called 911.
Subsequently, Coates still in the area and matching the description provided by witnesses, was taken into custody without incident.
The victim, who was medically assisted by Fire was eventually transported to the hospital. The victim and the attacker had no prior relationship.
As a part of this active, ongoing investigation, patrol officers and detectives looked into the suspect’s background, including his behavior and activity earlier in the day and week.
Through additional witness interviews and background investigation, detectives concluded that the suspect entered the store not only to assault the victim, but with the intent to commit a sexual assault.
There is also evidence that the suspect forcefully prevented the victim from calling for help. His booking was amended to reflect additional/modified charges. The investigation into this violent attack continues. The Police Department has requested the subject be held without the opportunity for bail.
Thus far felony charges include:
Assault with intent to commit rape
Assault with a deadly weapon with Great Bodily Injury
Second Degree Burglary
Dissuading a victim with force or fear
Criminal treats that terrorize
False imprisonment
Kidnapping for ransom
SBPD authorizes release of photo from SBSO Jail
Patrick McGowan says
Not to add to the identity mad country that we live in, I do consider myself someone who believes in ideas that are leftist. Still, the impetus for this excellent post is the kind of thing that makes me shake my head with embarrassment. This is not the kind of thing to be spending time and energy on. A tiny bit of research shows that Bend’s city council backed off of this very quickly and that one of the people offended has a history of raising concerns about inclusion and past injustices being ignored often. Perhaps the board felt it was easier to take down the sign than deal with her. I have no idea. I agree with you Jim that one billboard cannot tell the history of western expansionism and in the great comedy that is the world, the place where a mural DOES address the injustices (see San Francisco Board of Education) is being covered over. By the way, this is good news. The brilliant minds were going to paint over it, destroying it. It may be my ignorance, but for the life of me, I can’t fathom how one wagon is so offensive. Is the mindset that all pioneers massacred Native Americans?
I think so, yes. The ignorance of the history is what really gravels me. There were very few hostile encounters between emigrants and Indians. Travel was hard because of terrain, weather, cholera, stupid decisions, etc…
BTW, the Oregon State Flag features a covered wagon.