While many Republicans believe in the. "Replacement Theory" with all its cabalistic details - after all, these are the people who brought you super-gerryandering, so they know a thing or two about screwing with our political system - many are just reacting to what they see.

A couple of nights ago, I watched the first episode of Station 11 on HBO Max. In the first few moments, we are introduced to an Indian-American protagonist, a brave young girl protagonist, a White man in an interracial relationship, and a gay male couple. There is no "traditional" - cis-het-WASP couple or family anywhere in sight. This morning I watched a commercial for the Principal Financial Group. The performers, especially the bosses, were mostly Black women. You can tell White people not to believe in "Replacement Theory," but they will hear "Who're you gonna believe, me or your lyin' eyes?" The replacing is happening, and it scares them. The theory is just there to provide an outlet for the part of the fear that becomes rage.

Under-representation of minorities is clearly a problem in our pop culture. We need to see diversity, and, if I can put my mad scientist hat on, especially inter-racial couples, because I believe racism only ends when we can't tell each other apart. But that does not change the fact that White people are seeing themselves replaced. and whereas this looks like a blow against White supremacy to minorities and their allies, it looks like marginalization to White people. And minorities of all people should understand how people react to marginalization

Little is accomplished by insulting the frightened. Most of them are frightened because they are "on the bubble," relying on the marginalization of minorities to get access to the hind teat of the American dream. There are too many of them to hate, because they are the species God made (a metaphor for natural selection, if you're a non-believer). A way must be found to accommodate them, or there will be blood, as, indeed, there already is.