The blogverse and twittersphere tend to get very excited
about something called “call out culture” which those of us of a certain age
might call telling someone they are being a dick, or if the someone was
well-intentioned explaining why certain things are not a good idea.
It’s that simple really, either people are allowed to go
round hurting others with their language or attitudes or those who feel strong
enough challenge them. At this point I get to quote the most famous call out
culture piece of writing, which predates the interweb, but every decent
politics blog should at some point use. That is all this call out culture is, I
am not black, but if I see someone being racist, I care, I am not gay, but if I
see someone being homophobic I care. Not because I am some angel or politically
correct superhero but because a world without homophobia or racism or
transphobia or any other short-sighted festering form of bigotry will be a
better place. Who wouldn't want to live in that world? Seriously I am
struggling here to understand the problem?
There are two objections I hear most commonly on
twitter about calling out, one is easily
dealt with because I agree. The dreaded pile on. Mobs are not nice, they rarely
take the time to think about things, and minds are changed 0.0000000000001% of
the time. I have in the past been part of them, not meaning too, simply seeing
something that was wrong, or harmful (Like Moores transphobia) and responded,
without thinking hang on, lots of people have already said this, do I need to
say it too? Of course it’s normal to be angry about stuff and want to express
that, but avoiding the mob is also a thing we need to all do more often. If
someone won’t listen to a few people reasonably pointing something out then
oddly enough one hundred people baying for blood are not going to be more
effective.
Which brings us to the other far more problematic objection
to call out culture. The unity idea, otherwise known as “there are more
important things than X”
Shall we look at the wonderful words of Pastor Niemoller
again, just for those who don’t do links?
There will always be things that matter more to me than they
do to you, and things you care about that barely touch me. That’s normal and
inevitable. However once anyone starts deciding that unity matters more than
speaking out, that there is a greater good then they become that person not
speaking out about the trades unionist, because they were not a trade unionist.
The biggest example of this I know has been in the very
bitter wars about radfem13 (now cancelled) and the transphobia of many of the
main speakers. People have tried to say that being against the whole conference
or being pleased it was cancelled was wrong, because not everyone attending was
transphobic. Of course they were not, but they were staying silent, it was
other people being made to wear the yellow star, and because it was not them,
they decided that it was OK.
This is not just theory, or online for me. I am as regular
readers know a Christian. The Equal Marriage bill has caused many storms in
many churches, one of the biggest was when Steve Chalke stood up and said stop,
I will have no part of this prejudice. Not in my name. You need to know more of
the evangelical and charismatic churches to perhaps really understand what this
meant. Perhaps the equivalent would have been Julie Bindel turning up at SWOU
and giving us all an apology, then
writing a series of Guardian articles about how decriminalization is the
answer.
It was that big a statement, earth shattering for many
people, Chalke understood that if he remained silent, then he was allowing
those opposed to equal marriage to assume he agreed. He, and others such as
Symon Hill, also knew the outside world assumed all Christians were homophobic.
Only by speaking up could this idea be challenged. Only then could some of the
harm done by homophobia be addressed. Even in my own small way I made clear my
feelings, along with other Christians I openly prayed for the Bill, spoke up in
meetings, refused to let the voices of the most reactionary represent me.
That’s all calling out is, old fashioned phrases like
standing up and being counted, or the title of this piece. That’s all that
needed to happen for radfem13 to go ahead as well. For people not to think this
doesn’t affect me because I am not trans* or black or gay or a socialist or a
Jew, but instead to realise that every time a bigot gets a platform a piece of
humanity is hurt. Calling out is actually a sign of love, love for all
humanity, not just the rich and powerful part of it. If sometimes things go
wrong that should always be remembered. If you choose to stay silent because
you think unity matters more,, then you need to consider why a theory matters
more than loving your fellow human beings. If I didn’t believe people could be
better, I would not call them out. If I did not believe that when one of my
sisters or brothers are hurt, I am hurt too, I would sit back and let the
battle rage.
* I know Burke didn’t say it, still a wonderful quote
Here is My personal take on this:
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for those on welfare,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't on welfare.
Then they came for the public sector workers,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a public sector
worker.
Then they came for the pensioners,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a pensioner.
Then they came for the asylum seekers,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't an asylum seeker.
Then they came for the foreign passport holders,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a foreign passport
holder.
Then they came for those not British born,
and I didn't speak out because I was British.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.
