While reviewing social media, a post from Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic community organizer campaigning for Congress in New York's 13th District, came to attention. Chevalier, whose platform includes abolishing ICE if elected and who has received an endorsement from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, stated that "Hate has no place Uptown and in the Bronx" and emphasized there is "no room for the hateful politics of the past." These statements initially appear straightforward.
However, filmmaker Eli Steele subsequently quote-posted Chevalier, drawing attention to a perceived inconsistency between her recent declarations and earlier comments made by the aspiring representative. Chevalier had previously characterized the United States as a "f---ing disgrace" and asserted that "ALL PIGS EVERYWHERE ARE HARAM," implying that all law enforcement officers are impure and adversarial. The observation highlights a tension between these past remarks and her current rhetoric of unity and anti-hate.
The apparent contradiction is notable. More concerning, however, were the responses supporting her previous sentiments. Pastor Ben Dixon commented, "America is a disgrace.... what is the controversy?" Javier Soriano articulated an even stronger view, stating, "The United States of America has been a 'f---ing disgrace,' terrorist country since day one." Soriano further posited that the actions of White Europeans against Native Americans and Black slaves constituted terrorism, extending this label to American foreign policy.
These comments prompted a profound reflection on when expressing animosity towards America became perceived as a virtue. Such anti-Americanism is presented not as a political viewpoint or legitimate critique, but as a deeply corrosive societal issue. It is argued that this sentiment has permeated various communities to such an extent that it is now often regarded as normal.
The Pervasiveness of Disillusionment
This deep-seated dissatisfaction is described as intimately familiar, having observed its manifestations within segments of the Black community. Acknowledging that the rage has roots in generations of genuine oppression and its lasting impact, the author contends that this hatred has evolved beyond targeting specific injustices, now encompassing the nation itself.
A critical question arises regarding the upbringing of any child, particularly Black children, when constant societal signals suggest their nation is fundamentally evil, inherently racist, designed to undermine them, and incapable of change. How can qualities like pride, ambition, or responsibility be fostered in a child who has been convinced they reside in hostile territory?
This detrimental ideology is no longer confined to informal discourse but is reportedly being disseminated in some affluent American schools under the guise of "liberated ethnic studies." In these programs, children are allegedly categorized into "oppressor" (White) and "oppressed" (people of color) groups. The underlying message conveyed is that racial identity is primary, and America is inherently biased against them, leading to a diminished sense of individual identity and an embrace of tribalism as an unavoidable fate.
The central argument is that a prosperous future cannot be built within a nation perceived as an adversary.
Building vs. Tearing Down
If the belief that America was irredeemably racist and evil were true, the author states they would not be investing efforts into establishing a community center on the South Side of Chicago; instead, they would seek to leave. However, the author views this narrative as false, attributing its persistence to three main factors: it provides an excuse for personal failures, offering a rationale that "The system is rigged, so why try?"; it offers a sense of revolutionary action without requiring substantial effort; and it confers power, specifically the power to dismantle rather than to construct.
Chevalier's political platform, characterized by calls to "Abolish ICE" and the assertion that "America is rotten," is presented as lacking inspirational substance. The author argues that while anyone can reiterate slogans, authentic leadership demands acknowledging the truth: that America, despite its imperfections, remains an unparalleled engine for human advancement. It is credited with providing opportunities that were unavailable to previous generations and enabling individual growth and creation.
Historical Context and a Call for Change
This cycle of anti-American rhetoric has been a recurring theme for decades, prominent in the 1960s and 1970s, subsiding somewhat in the 1980s, and re-emerging forcefully with movements like Black Lives Matter in the 2010s. Each resurgence, it is argued, erodes credibility, harms communities, and jeopardizes futures, all while purporting to seek justice.
The generation that spearheaded the civil rights movement faced significant adversity, including fire hoses and police batons, not out of animosity towards America, but from a profound love for the nation and a determination for it to uphold its foundational principles. They endured hardships for the country's promise. In contrast, contemporary purveyors of grievance are seen as offering only division and resentment. When faced with the repercussions of their actions, they often express surprise.
It is posited that when hatred becomes a core aspect of one's identity, it invariably attracts hatred into one's life. This outcome is not attributed to America itself, but rather to the foreseeable consequences of individual choices.
Within the author's own community, this challenge is confronted daily. There is a firm refusal to convey to young people that their country is their enemy, as doing so would grant them permission to abandon hope. Instead, they are told a different truth: America is imperfect, but it rewards those who build and contribute.
The article concludes with a call to discard the destructive narrative of hatred and instead focus on constructing a future that offers genuine opportunities and benefits to the next generation. This, it asserts, represents the only truly worthwhile revolution.