I want to make something clear from the start. I am going to
speaking in some generalities. I am well aware that not everyone on the right
or who identifies as a Republican or conservative feels this way. The same can
be said that not every liberal, progressive, Democrat, or person on the left
feels this way. This is simply based on observations of the rhetoric I hear coming
from the vocal wing of the right.
I saw a post on Facebook that a friend shared, and in the
moment, it made sense to me. That led to me sharing the post. The first line of
the commentary said: “I am not a liberal snowflake.” At the time, it seemed
accurate. The term is thrown around to diminish and insult the left. However,
as I considered the idea more carefully, thinking back on a sign I had seen
from the Women’s March protest immediately following Trump’s inauguration, I
came upon another realization.
First, let’s examine why liberals are often called “snowflakes.”
Usually the rhetoric that you hear is that liberals all see themselves as
little unique entities that ultimately melt when a little heat is applied and
things don’t go their way. It is used to imply that, because of their uniqueness,
young liberals think that they should be treated as special and given special
privileges. This term is meant to denigrate and shame.
However, that’s bullshit, not complete bullshit but bullshit all the same. As the metaphor
goes, the left does tend to revel in their own uniqueness as well as the
uniqueness of others. We recognize that our experiences are not the same as
yours. But that’s really as far as the metaphor goes in terms of accuracy.
As a resident of the Midwest, I am keenly aware of how snow
works. Yes, if you apply a little heat to a single snowflake, it will
immediately melt. I’m not denying the laws of the natural world here. But this
is where the metaphor gets tricky for the right. If you gather snowflakes
together, the amount of heat that you need to apply to melt the snow increases.
Think about the end of the winter as it begins to turn to spring. It takes more than
one day of above freezing temperatures to melt the accumulated snow. Some may
melt on the first day, but it doesn’t all disappear overnight.
Also, as anyone can attest whose been through it, when the snow accumulates with
any significance, it can really make things difficult. Travel becomes difficult
as roads become treacherous for cars. When you don’t pay enough attention to
how you are driving in snowy conditions, it’s really easy to end up in a ditch
on the side of the road. Also, anyone who has ever fallen down while walking too
fast or even at a normal pace can attest to the dangers of not being cautious
when snow is on the ground. Basically, if you don’t respect that you need to
adjust your actions to account for the slippery conditions created by the snow, you may end up with some bumps and bruises.
Then there’s just the sheer magnitude of the snowflakes in
groups. Think about it. If you are in the mountains and disturb the snow, you’ve
got the destructive force of an avalanche to deal with. It can blanket the
landscape and trap everything in. Snow is a powerful natural force.
To bring it around to something of the more nerdy variety,
let’s look at House Stark in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. Unlike the other house of Westeros, the
words of House Stark are not a boast but rather an ominous warning: “Winter is coming.” In the North, the
Starks understand and respect the power of winter and by extension, snow. Ned
Stark also understood that winter brings people together. It's also a key characteristic
of their house sigil, the direwolf, a pack animal. As he points out to Arya in
the text of A Game of Thrones: “Let me tell you something about wolves,
child. When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but
the pack survives. Summer is the time for squabbles. In winter, we must protect
one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths. So if you must hate,
Arya, hate those who would truly do us harm. Septa Mordane is a good woman, and
Sansa... Sansa is your sister. You may be as different as the sun and the moon,
but the same blood flows through both your hearts. You need her, as she needs
you... and I need both of you, gods help me.”
Winter is harsh and cold. It upends everything around. It
kills the old so that the new may come. Without snow, the renewal process
cannot begin. It is the winter snow that, when it melts, provides the water to
the ground that will allow the spring flowers to grow. Winter also brings everything
together. It is the snow that binds humanity together.
So the next time, those of Trump’s America call you a
snowflake, don’t take it as an insult. Instead embrace it and say: “You’re damn
right I’m a snowflake. And guess what? Winter is Coming.”
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