An extract from Kathy Sheridan’s column in The Irish Times yesterday.
Though not a politician, Jack Smith would recognise some of the language in a country where every word and deed is politicised and polarising.
Woke, as one writer put it, is the number one meaningless word right now, used to signify any acknowledgment of racism or sexism, expressing an opinion while black or female, or “just a new thing that I don’t like”.
But silly and hackneyed as it is, it has the potential to be damaging. Observe how Donald Trump harnesses the word. This week he poured scorn on the US Women’s World Cup team and trolled its striker Megan Rapinoe – a high-profile advocate for racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights and women’s rights in sports – for missing a penalty. “WOKE EQUALS FAILURE. Nice shot Megan, the USA is going to Hell!!! MAGA”.
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