We’re devolving into a nation of shame gangs
Jun 25, 2018, 5:47 AM
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
It happened to Stephen Miller in a Mexican restaurant last Sunday, to Kirstjen Nielsen at another Mexican Restaurant on Tuesday, and to Sarah Sanders at a place called The Red Hen on Friday. They were either heckled or asked to leave for justifying the policy of separating refugee children from their parents.
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This has started a debate over the propriety of shaming off-duty Trump appointees.
But it’s a pointless debate because restaurants are private businesses. As long as they don’t invoke race, gender, religion or national origin, they can kick you out.
A Trump hat, an Obama button, or just a Yankees jersey — any of it can get you kicked out. Political affiliation is not a protected characteristic.
Social media is free speech, making every one of us now a potential real-time informant, free to alert the nearest shame squad to who’s eating where. Spot the target, summon the hecklers, post the video.
In this current climate of nasty nicknames and “compromise” equated to “treason,” I can see us devolving into a nation of shame gangs and counter-shame gangs, turning our nightlife into a nightmare of relentless protest chanting.
I hope it doesn’t come to that. Although, on the other hand, if it does come to that, it might be the thing that convinces the refugees it’s safer just to stay home.
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