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Too many folks today are disquieted by the possibility of uttering some erstwhile harmless expression that might conceivably offend peoples of various identity groups. As a service to my readers, I have decided to share a link to this thoughtful guide, actually a quiz, from the Manhattan Contrarian: “How To Identify Racist And Sexist Remarks And Slurs“. It is a short field guide, as it were, but one that may be applied to the “field of the mind” to fend off impurities of thought. In this day and age, one can’t be too careful!

Those who wish to score themselves on the quiz without exposure to spoilers should proceed directly to the link. I hope others, after reading just two of the questions and answers I quote below, will be so moved by the spirit of the exercise that they will go to the link to read the quiz in its entirety. Here are two of the questions and answers:

Q: “You say, ‘I believe the most qualified person should get the job.'”

A: “Obviously, this is racist, and probably sexist as well. … This statement demonstrates the ‘myth of meritocracy‘ and ‘assert[s] that race does not play a role in life successes.‘ It conveys the ‘message‘ that ‘[p]eople of color are given extra unfair benefits because of their race.‘”

Q: “I don’t give a, I don’t give a, I don’t give a fuck. I’m willin’ to die for this shit.  I done cried for this shit, might take a life for this shit. Put the Bible down and go eye to eye for this shit … If I gotta slap a pussy-ass nigga, I’ma make it look sexy.”

A: “Racist? Are you kidding????? These are lyrics from the song “Element,” from the album DAMN, by Kendrick Lamar, that won the Pulitzer Prize for music back in March. Obviously, if you had written this first, you would have won the Pulitzer Prize instead of Lamar.”

You must be attuned to the logic and politics of identity. Do NOT stumble into any implication that a thing matters that could be associated with an identity group, no matter how coincidentally. And do NOT under any circumstances attempt to adopt an element of the culture of another identity group, be it food, dress, music, or language. At the same time, however, do NOT forget that nothing matters more than honoring and paying restitution to each and every identity group that might have a claim to victimhood. Except for Jews, especially Zionists. Hope you like your straightjacket extra-tight.