Jen Sorensen for November 15, 2023

I partly disagree. For one thing GQPists aren’t likely to even have “modernity” in their working vocabulary. What I think they really hate about “woke” is that it is about empathy, particularly with people who aren’t “like” you… and that’s not just outside their ballpark, it’s also part of that “If you do something I don’t like, you’re in the wrong” thing they do from feeling entitled.

Woke is an adjective derived from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) meaning “alert to racial prejudice and discrimination”. (Wikipedia so it is true). That is all. Not a big deal (OMG)

It’s just one more “issue” for Republicans to weaponize and LIE about.

DeSantis is its primary proponent and he cannot even define it. But he’s against it to the point where it is the basis of his presidential campaign.

Much like the previous “Mexico will pay for it.”

Also… “Sanity!”

Woke = Aware.

Will never understand all the sweaty panic from the Fox-n-Fascist-friendly crowd on this very simple point.

They won’t listen to King Canute about holding back the tide. (He demonstrated that point well to flatterers.)

The term “woke” was in circulation for many years before 2016, it seems. Perhaps it entered, in a limited way, the general lexicon in 1937 with Lead Belly’s opus, “The Scottsboro Boys.”

Many have tried to raise awareness regarding racism, sexism, economic disparity, pollution, lack of basic necessities, etc. Such causes were not nicely wrapped up in a single word but doing so gives those opposing them an easy target to rant against.

Spot on. Full marks.

Ms Sorensen Thank you. One of your best! And that is saying a lot, w/ so many great ones.

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.”

“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”

“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master——that’s all.” (Carroll, “Through the Looking Glass”)

The demographics of a free republic will, of course, change over time as birthrates and immigration rates fluctuate over time, yet some envision this as losing a status that existed only in their minds. This alt reality imagery was nurtured by well-scripted/well-funded disinformation system seeking to divide that republic’s people against each other.

Woke.. past tense of wake. Used in a sentence “I woke up with a headache”. The meaning of words change over time (try reading Shakespeare.. or even the bible) but.. I am not ready to give up my version of woke.. sorry.

“woke”, much like ‘politically correct’, is simply showing consideration for your fellow American. conservatives try to demonize those terms. Do conservatives oppose showing consideration, or just oppose Americans?

If only the violent minority could go back to 1963 and kill LBJ before he signed the Civil Rights Act, or gotten both him and Kennedy together /s

The most woke document in the history of mankind begins: “We the People…”

What puzzles me (a little) is that they felt they had to have a new word for a really ancient concept.

The issue is that a lot of people who identified themselves as “woke” proved woefully out of touch with what was actually going on and so did more harm than good through their clumsy attempts at interfering, leading to “woke” taking on a negative connotation like the word “dunce” did (originally, it referred to a follower of a theologian named Duns).

It seems to be a generic word for those with very limited vocabularies.

Conservatives despise change and the future.

“I think sociopaths use it to discredit the notion of empathy” — John Cleese

Sad and true.

It also refers to putting political messages in where none belongs. Just look at Black Washed characters.

Defining Woke is as easy as defining Assault Weapon. Very much in the eye of the definer. Being Woke is defined as disability to me.