Ruling Class Plays Divide and Rule Over Abbott Tweet
Infantile Disorder | 05.01.2012 15:50 | Analysis | Other Press
Labour's Shadow Health Minister Diane Abbott is facing widespread media calls for her resignation this afternoon, after Tweeting that "'White people love playing 'divide & rule'". The instant furore illustrates much that is malevolent about the corporate media, and ironically enough provides a perfect example of how the ruling class plays divide and rule.
It is impossible for us to know exactly what Abbott meant by her Tweet. But the idea that she believes ALL white people love playing divide and rule - i.e. was racist - is preposterous. The term itself (and its alternative form - 'divide and conquer') has always been associated with the most powerful manipulators in society - people like Caesar, Napoleon and Machievelli. It refers to a tactic used by all those at the top of society, in order to prevent those at the bottom uniting and overthrowing them. It seems impossible that she was implying that poor working class white people in her Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency love to play divide and rule.
Abbott made her comment in the context of a discussion on the Stephen Lawrence case, after Gary Dobson and David Norris were finally imprisoned for a racist murder that took place eighteen years ago. In the moments before her now deleted Tweet, Abbott had correctly criticised the "police incompetence" in pursuing Lawrence's killers. She then responded to black journalist Bim Adewunmi, who had complained about the media's patronising use of the terms "black community" and "black community leaders", by referring to "white people" "playing divide & rule".
Diane Abbott is a long-standing MP, and operates on what passes for the 'left' of the Labour Party. She will have made many political enemies over the years, and they are no doubt currently rejoicing at the opportunity to give her a kicking. It is worth recalling that no serious corporate media calls were made for Jeremy Clarkson to resign when he called for the mass slaughter of striking public sector workers. Of course, he is a creature of the right, and the majority of his political positions are well within the current bourgeois spectrum. But why are Abbott's comments controversial at all?
Firstly, because the social fact of ethnic divisions is generally kept swept under the carpet of liberal political discourse. When it is raised at all, it is usually cloaked in white privilege - i.e. 'why aren't black fathers more responsible?' and 'why don't black kids do better at school?' Here we have a black woman raising the bare fact that racist power structures still exist in modern society. The bourgeois consensus doesn't want to talk about that, so she is slapped down.
But more than that, by couching her Tweet in purely ethnic terms, Abbott has laid herself open to easy and convenient accusations of racism. If she is forced out of the shadow cabinet, and is replaced by another bland 'Blue Labour' drone, then many on the right will be pleased. Furthermore, by implicitly playing this up as black vs white, the media papers over the chasmic class divisions in society.
A far better statement would have been that "Ruling class people love playing 'divide & rule'". This was undoubtedly true when Caesar conquered Gaul, and it is true when Tories try to play private sector workers against those in the public sector. But it is also true when Barack Obama plays Sunni against Shia in Iraq, for example. All ruling elites use the tactic at all times, and they would be foolish not to - it can work for them. The problem is that there are ruling elites in existence - and that is why working class people of all ethnicities and nations must unite to overthrow them.
Abbott made her comment in the context of a discussion on the Stephen Lawrence case, after Gary Dobson and David Norris were finally imprisoned for a racist murder that took place eighteen years ago. In the moments before her now deleted Tweet, Abbott had correctly criticised the "police incompetence" in pursuing Lawrence's killers. She then responded to black journalist Bim Adewunmi, who had complained about the media's patronising use of the terms "black community" and "black community leaders", by referring to "white people" "playing divide & rule".
Diane Abbott is a long-standing MP, and operates on what passes for the 'left' of the Labour Party. She will have made many political enemies over the years, and they are no doubt currently rejoicing at the opportunity to give her a kicking. It is worth recalling that no serious corporate media calls were made for Jeremy Clarkson to resign when he called for the mass slaughter of striking public sector workers. Of course, he is a creature of the right, and the majority of his political positions are well within the current bourgeois spectrum. But why are Abbott's comments controversial at all?
Firstly, because the social fact of ethnic divisions is generally kept swept under the carpet of liberal political discourse. When it is raised at all, it is usually cloaked in white privilege - i.e. 'why aren't black fathers more responsible?' and 'why don't black kids do better at school?' Here we have a black woman raising the bare fact that racist power structures still exist in modern society. The bourgeois consensus doesn't want to talk about that, so she is slapped down.
But more than that, by couching her Tweet in purely ethnic terms, Abbott has laid herself open to easy and convenient accusations of racism. If she is forced out of the shadow cabinet, and is replaced by another bland 'Blue Labour' drone, then many on the right will be pleased. Furthermore, by implicitly playing this up as black vs white, the media papers over the chasmic class divisions in society.
A far better statement would have been that "Ruling class people love playing 'divide & rule'". This was undoubtedly true when Caesar conquered Gaul, and it is true when Tories try to play private sector workers against those in the public sector. But it is also true when Barack Obama plays Sunni against Shia in Iraq, for example. All ruling elites use the tactic at all times, and they would be foolish not to - it can work for them. The problem is that there are ruling elites in existence - and that is why working class people of all ethnicities and nations must unite to overthrow them.
Infantile Disorder
Homepage:
http://infantile-disorder.blogspot.com/
Comments
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Question
05.01.2012 15:57
" Black people love playing divide and rule"
Would you regard questions as to it being racist as 'preposterous' ?
Realist
racist
05.01.2012 16:48
anon
It would probably be better if she didn't tweet it
05.01.2012 17:11
Not really any positives for Tweeting stuff like that.
It either is racist or sounds racist. Can't see any other ways of looking at it.
I get a feeling she plays the black card a bit toooooo much
Here is the woman who said Tottenham should only have a black MP. How racist do you wanna get?
another anon
this is obviously different to racism against black people
05.01.2012 17:48
Discrimination against a majority powerful group is NOT the same as discrimination against a minority or less powerful group.
Sure, in an ideal world racism wouldn't exist and white and black would have just as much power in society, and if we lived in that fantasy world this would be just as wrong. But we don't, and this isn't.
And first two anons smell suspiciously like EDL trolls to me...!
anon2
no justifiable in any way
05.01.2012 18:24
If you can't handle the other side of the argument thats your problem. But labeling everyone that you disagree with as a troll/edl/MI5/racist/Zionist/Mason/Burger eating doesn't cut it. Maybe i don't like your argument? Maybe I'll just dismiss it because you are clearly an ethnic troll. Or..... maybe not
Discrimination against a majority powerful group is NOT the same as discrimination against a minority or less powerful group.
By "powerful group" I assume you mean the "white people" mentioned in the tweet.
So, to translate, you are saying that white people (the powerful people?) can be discriminated against (because they happen to have white skin) because they are a majority powerful group. That makes you are a racist.
"white people divide and rule", is a racist statement, because she referred to all the people who happen to have white skin. Shes recognised it is wrong, shes apologised, and hopefully she won't do it again.
Morris
switch off your computer
05.01.2012 19:02
Not too hard understand is it, unless you're an Indymedia troll
You take the tweet out of context (it was a response to another tweet) and then you skweam and skweam till you're thick...
and go do something meaningful
If that is true...
05.01.2012 19:26
a) delete it
b) apologised
c) agree it was wrong
Clearly, she agreed it was wrong. It seems you are the only person who thinks not.
Why not write an article and get it published in the Guardian?
"Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination."
Yes, she said "white people...". Thats a racial trait if there ever was one.
"In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet."
Yes, she said white people divide and rule. Thats a pejorative towards white people.
"Not too hard understand is it, unless you're an Indymedia troll "
Obviously it is too hard for you to understand.
"You take the tweet out of context (it was a response to another tweet) and then you skweam and skweam till you're thick... "
She said what she said. Shes apologised and recognised it is offensive. Deal with it.
Morris
Socialist Idiots
05.01.2012 19:36
Antifascist 69
storm in a tweet-cup
05.01.2012 20:02
a) delete it
b) apologised
c) agree it was wrong
takes a brave woman to stand up to the corporate media
- guess what colour the owners of that are?
- and the journalists?
- and her party bosses?
- and the outraged trolls on here?
- geddit?
- It's fine to go insults Indians in India though - guess what colour Clarkson is?
and go do something meaningful
more trolls
05.01.2012 20:48
She hasn't "stood up to corporate media". She has tweeted a racist comment based upon people who have white skin. She has then apologised. Wheres the "stand up to the corporate media" fit in with that?
- guess what colour the owners of that are? - The shareholders? All sorts
- and the journalists? - All sorts
- and her party bosses? - White
- and the outraged trolls on here? -- White? Funny that, considering the comment is racist towards those same white people.
- geddit? - No!!! Except you seem have a chip on your shoulder about white people.
- It's fine to go insults Indians in India though - guess what colour Clarkson is?
White. Who said its ok? That was splashed all over the papers too.
anonny
j
05.01.2012 20:52
Divide and Rule - Part 1
African identity, "black" identity and the British media (Diane Abbott)
Fri 26 May 2006
anyway i think what she meant was whiteman not white people... shame most of the anarchos on here are also whiteman though innit
l
Red Fucking Herring
05.01.2012 21:16
Idiocracy
OFFENSIVE COMMENT
05.01.2012 21:39
I make no apology for being born white, gangster boy
White Man
everyone slips up
05.01.2012 21:50
From wikipedia --
In 1996, she commented that at her local hospital "blonde, blue-eyed Finnish girls" were unsuitable as nurses because they had "never met a black person before".[37] The secretary of the all-party Finland group of MPs, Conservative Ian Bruce responded by accusing her of "using racial stereotypes", adding: "All Scandinavian countries have people from African and Caribbean countries living there. It shows ignorance to make such remarks."[38] She referred to David Cameron and Nick Clegg as "two posh white boys" in May 2010.[39]
Is she racist? Well, once is chance, twice is conincidence, three times is a pattern. it does give a glimpse of what is going on in her mind, but I think we all have that little racist voice in our head that occasionally slips out. We are afterall just humans with instincts based upon millions of years of evolution hardwiring where distrust of other tribes proved to be an effective defence in ancient times. Things have changed now, but that hardwiring is still there.
Whats important is to recognise that everyone has a bit of racism in them, so not to jump the gun just because it slips out on occasion.
Ruth
@Morris
05.01.2012 22:07
I'm not saying they are a troll because I don't agree with them, I'm saying it because I really think they are trolls i.e. people pretending to be anti-fascists but aren't really. If they didn't claim to be anti-fascist I wouldn't call them trolls.
"you are saying that white people (the powerful people?) can be discriminated against (because they happen to have white skin) because they are a majority powerful group. That makes you are a racist."
No, I'm saying it is DIFFERENT. If a less powerful group discriminates against a more powerful group it might not be right in some pure sense, but it is still much more understandable. If I don't like former public schoolboys, that might not be totally right, since people can't choose what family they were born into, but it's a lot less worse than some toff not liking common people. Nice straw man argument though (or should that be straw person?!)
As it happens, I'm white, I don't like the Labour Party or politicians and would like to see them all up against the wall, but I wasn't offended, and I think this has just been blown up by the mainstream media to suit their own agenda.
anon2
Feel the pain yet?
06.01.2012 01:13
And I doubt that a single one of them feels discriminated against because of what Dianne Abbot said.
If you're black in a society where all the power, wealth and authority appears to be be in the hands of white people, it would be surprising if you didn't notice that.
So, any of the outraged whites want to say what it is about the statement that upsets them so much?
Lets remember that the tweet was in a conversation about the conviction of 2 whites who killed a black guy purely because he was black, and then the police treated the family as if they were the bad guys. And now everybodies talking about Dianne Abbot.
paucity of debate
k
06.01.2012 06:53
reject whiteness now!
d
fuck the whiteman
06.01.2012 09:24
Race is a modern day term invented by rich white men.
The term white did not exist before then. Whiteness is a racist supremacist concept.
The whiteman loves to play divide and rule; history demonstrates this. If you consider yourself white, you have bought into the ruling class identity. This country needs some serious self purging of its whiteness. Trust!
fuck white supremacy
Divide and rule
06.01.2012 11:22
Rob
Discrimination against a majority powerful group is NOT the same as discriminati
06.01.2012 12:13
Dan Factor
Dan Factor
06.01.2012 12:20
Factor this
why?
06.01.2012 13:07
I guess it is all the good racism/bad racism crap that is going on.
Yes im stopped/searched 3 times in one day by the police.
Is that because im white or because where i live? I dont know
But what i do know, is people on here insinuating that being white is a bad thing and that I should drop all my white roots and that there should be less whiteness going on and that white people do this that and the other...... then yeah - I've got a problem with that. Its called stick up for myself - because I AM white.
What whites did in the 17th century has nothing to do with me. Yes white did slavery of blacks, but get this, so did blacks -- for 1000s of years. If you are going to tarnish white people of today with what some white people historically did then you are saying that their skin colour defines their actions - which is racist.
Judge people on what they do, not what people with the same skin colour did in history books.
SO back to the question:
"So, any of the outraged whites want to say what it is about the statement that upsets them so much?"
Its a disparaging remark about white people that it unjustified. Diane insinuated a trait about white people. Its a racist comment. It irksome when someone who lectures others about racism, yet feels she can say racist comments about "white people". Its a slur. Its generalising against white people that is without truth, inciteful and unlawful.
anon
Factor this
06.01.2012 13:33
Of course. I was talking in terms of economic discrimination: crap wages etc.
Dan Factor
we are all the same colour!
06.01.2012 13:33
how about that for divide and rule?!
this woman is an idiot, she doesnt deserve sympathy from anyone.
she is typical of a woman who has fought hard to make it in a mans world..... ie. she is playing their games and is a total bitch.
We need proper female matriarch role models..... but all we get are 'battleaxes', because they 'made it' in the patriarchy....
FUCK THE PATRIARCHY!
different shade of brown
Abbott spoke for non-white people around the world
06.01.2012 14:13
Divide and Rule
By: Indian | Thursday , 5 Jan '12 19:32:06 PMReply | Forward
What Diane mentioned is a well known fact. We are taught in hitory that the english people divided our country and ruled over us. Hindu muslim divide eventually caused partition and untold miseries to millions. Another white country, USA, decided to divide Iraq into Shia and Sunni. Now Sunni majority country is being ruled by Shia - and sowed the seed of paritition of Iraq. Its their strategy to divide and rule (always). I am not against US or UK, but what is true will always remain true.
A realistic tweet
By: aman Dhaliwal | Thursday , 5 Jan '12 19:23:49 PMReply | Forward
She hit the hit. Nothing wrong that she said. This pretty eveident, the government should ask the non-whites in UK and will know what she meant. certainly....onest reviews are never welcomed.
Diane Abbot could have gone around the world speaking to non-white audiences and no one would have batted an eyelid over her words. If she’d said ‘all’ white people, she would have been criticised but she never would have. Most non-whites would see her statements as obviously true.
White Left would like to pretend that ‘divide and rule’ is only done by the ruling class and their lackeys. This is not my experience. In the past, some on the Left put up black people from the Militant Tendency to attack black self-organisation in the Labour Party. Today, one left grouping involved in an anti-cuts campaign puts up their own black spokesperson at a public meeting rather than someone from a black-run group. Although, this tactic did not respresent the majority of people in the campaign.
It’s also interesting that the Labour Party wheel out a black MP to condemn her while the Tory Party are happy to have two black MPs to attack her. Diane was involved in Labour Party Black Sections, without her work, there probably would not be any black MPs. So, white people get black MPs to attack a black person who helped to bring about black people in Parliament. You couldn’t make this up.
I have asked over and over again, how her words have caused offense. I haven’t had an answer. Indeed, many white people seem incapable of coming up with an answer, that is, I’m not sure whether they understand why it may be offensive.
Louise Mench MP condemned D Abbot for her tweet. I tweeted her but have yet to receive an answer:
@LouiseMensch - would you take a stand against racism on an issue black people regard as vital? Could I ask black people to approach you?
SDubois
Very funny
06.01.2012 14:56
Laughing
@anon
06.01.2012 15:26
Yes of course, you've redefined the word so it merely means noticing that other people are a different colour, and now is no longer "applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature". Now those who benefit most from racism are also the victims the racism. Neat trick.
"Its a disparaging remark about white people that it unjustified. Diane insinuated a trait about white people. Its a racist comment. It irksome when someone who lectures others about racism, yet feels she can say racist comments about "white people". Its a slur. Its generalising against white people that is without truth, inciteful and unlawful."
You've also de-contextualised the statement ,which followed the discussion described by Bim Adewunmi:
" In the course of tweeting the events around the trial, conviction and sentencing of Gary Dobson and David Norris for the murder of Stephen Lawrence, I wrote: "I do wish everyone would stop saying 'the black community' though." I expanded in a followup: "Clarifying my 'black community' tweet: I hate the generally lazy thinking behind the use of the term. Same for 'black community leaders'. This led to a reply from my local MP Diane Abbott, in which she said: "I understand the cultural point you are making. But you are playing into a "divide and rule" agenda."
We went back and forth for a few tweets more and then Abbott sent out the tweet that caused the furore: "White people love playing 'divide & rule' We should not play their game #tacticasoldascolonialism."
I am supposedly white and in no way do I feel insulted or irked by Dianne Abbots statement - nor do I delude myself that I am now a victim of racism.
The 'anon' persona was a little less sensitive when it came to Clarkson taking the piss out of Indians on this thread:
____________________________________________
errrrr!
02.01.2012 17:08
This story should be
"Indymedia promote Z-list celebrity and leave entire readership puzzled to death"
Jeeees!!!
anon
_____________________________________________
Jizza in Iraq
02.01.2012 17:15
Something tells me absolutely nobody will respond to this call out, because absolutely nobody gives even the slightest shit about BBC programming.
Can't the BBC send Jizza back to Iraq dressed as an US army general.
Now that would be worth broadcasting.
anon
__________________________________________________
None cares.
02.01.2012 17:29
WTF!!!
Who gives a shit????
anon
_________________________________________________
Who?
03.01.2012 04:01
Sorry, who is Jeremy Clarkson?
anon
_____________________________________________________
Moderators!!!!
03.01.2012 11:44
"Let's mount the pressure to remove this outspoken bigot from his position of power."
Sure, and when next Christmas arrives he'll be doing exactly the same thing and you will be doing exactly the same impression of Mrs Simpson of suburbia.
Where did all the other comments go. Why have they been hidden?
Got something to hide have you?
anon
_________________________________________________________
Now you're either a troll or you suddenly developed an extreme sensitivity to 'racism' in the last two days. Which is it?
paucity of debate
counterexample
06.01.2012 15:49
mj
Truth telling about white people is 'racist' and 'offensive'?
06.01.2012 15:50
06.01.2012 14:56
Always amusing to see Middle Class Liberals defending racism when it is Black racism. Racism is Racism who does it is immaterial.
Laughing
As a black person, I'm interested in whether Diane's comments were true. I don't understand what the offense is to white people.
I've looked at the comments and no one who is quick to condemn Diane's comments has explained why they were either racist or offensive. No one has presented evidence to show that they are not true.
Could someone come up with evidence that clearly demonstrates that most white people object to 'divide and rule' tactics, therefore making Abbott's comments wrong, unfair and offensive?
.
SDubois
OK I'm happy to tell the truth
06.01.2012 15:59
Muggings by Black youths are 40% higher than those by White youths in London
30% of the prison population is Black compared to their position as 4% of the UK population
The percentage of people from North Africa living in the UK that have car insurance was shown to be 70% lower than the general population.
All of the above are true but displayed like this out of context they are all Racist statements. The above Tweet is Racist for the same reason.
Truth teller
'Reverse racism' is a flawed concept
06.01.2012 16:43
commentisfucked
Reverse racism is a flawed concept
06.01.2012 17:40
Dan Factor
Diane fights for white people
06.01.2012 20:11
Diane Abbott has done some classic previous racist faux-pas'
From wikipedia --
In 1996, she commented that at her local hospital "blonde, blue-eyed Finnish girls" were unsuitable as nurses because they had "never met a black person before".[37] ...
This is a lie. She asked the question why is it that "blonde, blue-eyed Finnish girls",,"never met a black person before" were more likely to be employed in the NHS to treat black people than local black people.
'Is she racist? Well, once is chance, twice is conincidence, three times is a pattern.'
More offensive lies from Ruth who I'd say is a bigot. She is more likely to fight for white people facing injustice than you are.
Simon
clear as day
06.01.2012 22:45
They said it was racist.
So what are which teaching kids, that it is ok to brand a race of people with a pejorative description?
Diana Abbott should know better than speaking about people like that. She has rightfully recognised it would be considered offensive and apologised.
So it appears black people ARE divided on the issue
Maize
Serengeti Seperation Operations
07.01.2012 09:43
Whiteman does play the role of divider and conquerer. This isn't just reserved to the politicos but is the foundation of capitalism, every boss in the world is well aware of this tactic.
I can't help thinking that Diane actually did this on purpose to enflame the class war and aid the Labour propoganda machine.
Lizard
Maize
07.01.2012 10:33
Let me guess, your children are adults who have made extensive studies of the meaning of racism. Perhaps a professor and a civil rights lawyer? It would be dreadful to think that they might be preteens who are pliable enough to give the answer that mummy wants! Or that you're just an EDL troll with no children at all.
It is amazing how in this racist society with its racist wars, so many people are able to recognise 'racism' in a tweet by a black MP, but hardly ever recognise the real racism that stares them in the face each day.
Ask your 'children' why they think that is Maize. And please do abuse the comments section again to let us know the answer. Thanks
Ustilago maydis
Diane fights for white people
07.01.2012 10:59
Well guess what. It is totally illiterate to describe white people dividing and ruling black people as racist. DIvide and rule is a strategy. It is a strategy people CHOSE to deploy. It is a strategy people can CHOSE to oppose or not to oppose.
Guess what. WHITE PEOPLE HAVE DO TODAY AND WILL IN THE FUTURE actively oppose using divide and rule against black people. They have thought about and it and CHOSE to do so for ETHICAL AND HUMANITARIAN reasons. TO be honest, they have to brave to do so.
I am black. I had the pleasure of being in the Irish Centre in Birmingham when a celebration was put on after the release of the Birmingham 6. I actively supported their release. I recognised that their imprisonment was an injustice (actually a crime) and I took action for what I think is ethical reason. I knocked on people's doors asking people to sign a petition for the release of the Birmingham 6. Do you know what many white people said to me? They should be let out when they find the real ones. I have no doubt that Diane actively supported their release.
I have supported Diane Abbott in various blogs and I'm called a bigot.
Before you start attacking Diane, ask white people how representative fighting divide and rule is among white people.
For Ed Miliband to condemn Diane Abbott while not highlighting her support for white people who need defending is a disgrace.
Simon
when man becomes god
07.01.2012 13:20
Lizard
Diane Abbot and racism in an imperial age
07.01.2012 13:55
As Alana Lentin and Gavan Titley note in The Crisis of Multiculturalism: Racism in a Neoliberal Age:
"To criticize ‘white European culture’ as imperialist is not the same as claiming that all migrants are wife-beaters, or homophobes. The first contention, however furiously it is debated, makes little impact on the everyday lives of whites occupying hegemonic and relatively privileged social positions. The second... has cumulative political power, requiring everyone ascribed to those groups to negotiate it in some form, and leading to the further demonization of large groups of people already diminished in power vis-à-vis the majority in the societies in which they live."
Only in a public domain debased by decades of neoliberalism, where debate is divorced from any notion of social or historical realities, could the absurd claims made against Abbot be seen as having any intellectual coherence.
Tom
Homepage:
http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/blog_comments/diane_abbot_and_racism_in_a_neoliberal_age
Have you tried hailing a taxi?
07.01.2012 17:53
Dan Factor
poor use of twitter
07.01.2012 20:53
paully
racist comment
08.01.2012 18:58
No one has explained why this comment is not racist in nature, or provided any evidence to support their claims.
Amiable
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