Cox Farms in Nova - "Resist White Supremacy" sign

[Anonymous]

The point is that a group of people can be offended by something even when it doesn't refer to their actual beliefs, either by the way it's used by their opponent. If Cox farms throws up a sign that says "resist Commies," a significant portion of the population understands or assumes that it's a dig on the Left as a whole. We're not here to discuss what's worse - White supremacy or Comminism? Because it's irrelevant. Got it? No, probably not eh?

I'm a liberal, most of my friends/family/neighbors are liberal, and we'd all nod our head in agreement with that sign.

Why? Because we don't identify or have really any sympathies with hardcore Commies. Nor do we equate Communism with our views on the role of government in social welfare/the economy. We prefer a nicely balanced approach to government ensuring a safety net but also providing sufficient incentives to get people off their asses.

I guess there's the real rub between Liberals and Conservatives.

But what if Hillary Clinton had won, and a business put up a sign that said "Resist Hillary Clinton" and then, after some time, changed the sign to read, "Resist Commies"?

Might people then feel that the business was trying to set up an equivalence between Hillary Clinton supporters and Commies? Even though they are well aware that most Hillary Clinton supporters are in no way supporters of communism?

[Anonymous]

The Cox post that got so much publicity actually came as a follow up after reading and responding to Sylvanaqua Farms's criticism. They apologized to him for their initial post and acknowledged he was right. The follow up was the one where they put their money where their mouth was. This was his comment after that:

"If I'd felt bad about criticizing the original post, it went away after I read this article. I really have to wonder if their followup post - the one where they used their huge platform to raise money for actual civil right organizations - would have been written at all if they hadn't come across this.

Cox Farms and I have kissed and made up, but yeah - it burns me a little that wypipo can virtually print money after writing literally three words about racism."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The sign itself is not offensive to me. What I find offensive is the blatant PR/marketing that is behind this. It may not have been their initial intent, but when they saw the press it was getting, they ran with it and turned it up a notch or 10000.

This sign was not their first. It's just the latest in a series that began in January 2017 with "We love Our Muslim Neighbors" and then "Fight Ignorance, Not Immigrants." It's not just about fighting white supremacy.

It's much more than the sign. It's the commentary that accompanies it and its use on social media. They are milking this for all its worth. I highly doubt they would be posting these messages if they truly felt it might be risky to their business. They are doing it because they know that, in the area where they are, they safely can, while actually increasing their business. It seems very transparent and the way they are patting themselves on the back for their "bravery" is highly disingenuous.

This was an interesting take on their message from a black farmer in the Charlottesville area:

https://www.facebook.com/sylvanaqua/posts/1195952503869381?hc_location=ufi

"Calling out Trumpism and flag-waving White supremacists from beneath the warm blanket of Virginia’s most liberal county. So brave. Ok, y’all ?

The entire post isn’t shown, but they spend most of it repeating, over and over again, how much of a “risk” they’re taking by displaying this sign (and others like it) and all but screaming “buy from us because we’re the good guys!!!”

I know a bold message like this hits a lot of folks right in the feels, but to a Black farmer who has to deal day in and out with he consequences of racism from both ends of the political spectrum, what I see is White farmers using my pain to make hay. Especially considering that this post only indirectly mentions the actual targets of White supremacy... and even then it’s in reference to how “brave” they are for “taking a stand” on our behalf."

I'm a liberal and I think that this is a very fair criticism. I hope Cox Farm put its money where its mouth is located with the profits it generates. I can totally understand why rural farmers in the heart of conservative southern VA may feel a bit cynical about the entire ploy.

OH cry me a river. So white people can't comment on these things because they've never dealt with it? But when whites are silent they are at fault too. Hypocritical if you ask me.

[Anonymous]

Much needed! The shooter attended white supremacist meetings. Kudos to Cox Farms for being brace and ahead of the curve.

[Anonymous]

Brave

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does this make sense? I'm not a member of either party, but giving this some thought, here's what I think might be going on:

I think that conservatives are aware that liberals think that all conservatives are racist. Now most conservatives are not racists, but conservatives read the newspapers and listen to NPR, so they are aware of what liberals think of them.

So, when they see a business which is very public in its support of more liberal, progressive issues put up a sign saying this, then they kind of figure the business is subtly trying to paint all conservatives with the same brush. Particularly when the sign it replaces previous said to resist the republican president, so that they appear to be setting up an equivalence with any set of words that come after the word "Resist."

So I think there might be a sense that no matter what words the sign owners write after the word "Resist," they are really referring to conservatives/republicans, whether or not those words refer to the beliefs of 99.9% of conservatives or republicans.

Thank you! I am the one who kept pestering for an explanation and this is very plausible and helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And, for the record, Communism, which is an economic theory/system, in and of itself is NOT evil.

The governments who have forced it onto their populations are.

But, I know, Nuance is hard.

You missed the point again. And this was ironic.

if we're going to go on and on about this sign vs. "resist commies", I think we need to talk about what that word actually means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Much needed! The shooter attended white supremacist meetings. Kudos to Cox Farms for being brace and ahead of the curve.

How is it brave? 99.9999% of the people who live anywhere near their farm are also against white supremacists. What would be brave in this area would be a business putting up a pro-Trump sign, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much needed! The shooter attended white supremacist meetings. Kudos to Cox Farms for being brace and ahead of the curve.

How is it brave? 99.9999% of the people who live anywhere near their farm are also against white supremacists. What would be brave in this area would be a business putting up a pro-Trump sign, lol.

huh? plenty of Trump signs in Centreville

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much needed! The shooter attended white supremacist meetings. Kudos to Cox Farms for being brace and ahead of the curve.

How is it brave? 99.9999% of the people who live anywhere near their farm are also against white supremacists. What would be brave in this area would be a business putting up a pro-Trump sign, lol.

huh? plenty of Trump signs in Centreville

On storefronts and other businesses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Cox post that got so much publicity actually came as a follow up after reading and responding to Sylvanaqua Farms's criticism. They apologized to him for their initial post and acknowledged he was right. The follow up was the one where they put their money where their mouth was. This was his comment after that:

"If I'd felt bad about criticizing the original post, it went away after I read this article. I really have to wonder if their followup post - the one where they used their huge platform to raise money for actual civil right organizations - would have been written at all if they hadn't come across this.

Cox Farms and I have kissed and made up, but yeah - it burns me a little that wypipo can virtually print money after writing literally three words about racism."

Again, a good point, and it shows how difficult it is to discuss this issue, even when both parties are trying to get on the same page.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Cox post that got so much publicity actually came as a follow up after reading and responding to Sylvanaqua Farms's criticism. They apologized to him for their initial post and acknowledged he was right. The follow up was the one where they put their money where their mouth was. This was his comment after that:

"If I'd felt bad about criticizing the original post, it went away after I read this article. I really have to wonder if their followup post - the one where they used their huge platform to raise money for actual civil right organizations - would have been written at all if they hadn't come across this.

Cox Farms and I have kissed and made up, but yeah - it burns me a little that wypipo can virtually print money after writing literally three words about racism."

Again, a good point, and it shows how difficult it is to discuss this issue, even when both parties are trying to get on the same page.

So they actually raised money for actual civil rights organizations but it still burns him up a little? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Cox post that got so much publicity actually came as a follow up after reading and responding to Sylvanaqua Farms's criticism. They apologized to him for their initial post and acknowledged he was right. The follow up was the one where they put their money where their mouth was. This was his comment after that:

"If I'd felt bad about criticizing the original post, it went away after I read this article. I really have to wonder if their followup post - the one where they used their huge platform to raise money for actual civil right organizations - would have been written at all if they hadn't come across this.

Cox Farms and I have kissed and made up, but yeah - it burns me a little that wypipo can virtually print money after writing literally three words about racism."

Again, a good point, and it shows how difficult it is to discuss this issue, even when both parties are trying to get on the same page.

So they actually raised money for actual civil rights organizations but it still burns him up a little? Really?

I assumed it was because of all the people who've pledged to support Cox Farms, buy their produce, etc. in support. 'Twould be nice if they would support black farmers, too, if they're inclined to that sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Cox post that got so much publicity actually came as a follow up after reading and responding to Sylvanaqua Farms's criticism. They apologized to him for their initial post and acknowledged he was right. The follow up was the one where they put their money where their mouth was. This was his comment after that:

"If I'd felt bad about criticizing the original post, it went away after I read this article. I really have to wonder if their followup post - the one where they used their huge platform to raise money for actual civil right organizations - would have been written at all if they hadn't come across this.

Cox Farms and I have kissed and made up, but yeah - it burns me a little that wypipo can virtually print money after writing literally three words about racism."

Again, a good point, and it shows how difficult it is to discuss this issue, even when both parties are trying to get on the same page.

So they actually raised money for actual civil rights organizations but it still burns him up a little? Really?

I assumed it was because of all the people who've pledged to support Cox Farms, buy their produce, etc. in support. 'Twould be nice if they would support black farmers, too, if they're inclined to that sort of thing.

I understand that and I sympathize. Cox obviously has a product others do not mind spending money on. When the money is used for their cause why be cynical about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Cox post that got so much publicity actually came as a follow up after reading and responding to Sylvanaqua Farms's criticism. They apologized to him for their initial post and acknowledged he was right. The follow up was the one where they put their money where their mouth was. This was his comment after that:

"If I'd felt bad about criticizing the original post, it went away after I read this article. I really have to wonder if their followup post - the one where they used their huge platform to raise money for actual civil right organizations - would have been written at all if they hadn't come across this.

Cox Farms and I have kissed and made up, but yeah - it burns me a little that wypipo can virtually print money after writing literally three words about racism."

Again, a good point, and it shows how difficult it is to discuss this issue, even when both parties are trying to get on the same page.

So they actually raised money for actual civil rights organizations but it still burns him up a little? Really?

I assumed it was because of all the people who've pledged to support Cox Farms, buy their produce, etc. in support. 'Twould be nice if they would support black farmers, too, if they're inclined to that sort of thing.

I understand that and I sympathize. Cox obviously has a product others do not mind spending money on. When the money is used for their cause why be cynical about it?

I didnt read it as cynical, but almost wry "yeah, it burns me a little" that Cox gets a ton of patrons by posting a sign about racism. Because Cox also makes money for themselves, not just pointing people to likeminded organizations. Why not patronize black business owners in addition to donating to non-profits and patronizing white businesses that support those non-profits? It's the same skepticism when some gentrifiers move into a neighborhood they absolutely LOVE JUST THE WAY IT IS but only patronize the new coffee shops and not the existing businesses. It made me think twice.