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New Discourses

DEI is "Speaking Bitterness"

Jul 26, 2024
The podcast delves into the historical concept of 'speaking bitterness' from Mao's China, highlighting its sinister role in fostering division. It critiques modern DEI training, suggesting it mirrors past coercive practices that disrupt community unity. Discussions reveal how airing grievances can deepen societal rifts rather than promote healing. Parallels are drawn between historical and contemporary social dynamics, emphasizing the urgent need to rethink inclusion strategies and the toxic effects of grievance narratives on society.
25:25

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The concept of 'speaking bitterness' historically served to ignite distrust and division in communities, paralleling the goals of contemporary DEI training sessions.
  • Both Mao's campaigns and modern grievance-based initiatives like DEI exploit personal grievances to manipulate social dynamics, ultimately fostering an atmosphere of suspicion and conflict.

Deep dives

Understanding 'Speaking Bitterness'

The concept of 'speaking bitterness', originating from Mao's China in the 1950s, served as a tool for the Communist regime to foster division and destroy community cohesion. The Chinese government organized mandatory meetings where citizens were compelled to voice their grievances, effectively acting as a data mining operation to gather personal information and relationships within the community. This exercise aimed to classify individuals into different social classes, which then directed the resentment towards those deemed higher in the hierarchy. Ultimately, these campaigns led to widespread enmity and conflict, breaking apart communities as individuals engaged in competitive airing of grievances against one another.

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