Whoopi

Whoopi

Whoopi Goldberg must stand in the corner for two weeks not for what she believes but for what she let out of the bag.

She said yesterday that the Holocaust was not about race. Strange that both the Nazis and the Jews thought it was. But what seems like just another moronic celebrity declaration is actually quite revealing.

Hitler hated the Jews, refining a strong European tradition. He--and Europe--thought them an inferior subset, distinctive both culturally and genetically. But Jews are not a true race. So, is Whoopi right?

Do we need Ms. Goldberg to clarify the motives of a murderous regime? Teach the basics of race to homicidal goons? I don't think that was her intent. She is not interested in violence toward helpless victims, she is concerned about the 'racism' brand.

Tribalism identifies an 'other,' then turns on him. From the Hatfields and the McCoys to the Hutus and Tutsis, the hatred depends on identifying, dehumanizing, then obliterating an 'other.' Racism looks no different from tribalism because it is tribalism, only easier. Racism makes identifying the other more simple.

Ms. Goldberg has revealed her concern: racism must not be confused with broader tribalisms. Racism must be special, never part of man's general defects, never part of man's larger problems. According to Ms. Goldberg, the Holocaust was pretty awful, but it does not rise to the level of real racism. Anger at Islamist is one thing, but it does not distill into real evil until it is branded racism.

Nothing must allow common tribal animosity to dilute racism. Racism must always be particular, must always stand out. It must never become just anther arrow of disgust in the quiver of the pure.