The DSA is shooting itself in the foot
+why Zohran should learn from Lasch (+try to bench at least 135 lbs)
Disclaimer: This is NOT a political post. It is a metadiscursive commentary on cultural politics. By all means, join the DSA and vote for Zohran (or don’t)! Who are we to tell you who to vote for…God?? You do you, cis!
As some of you already know, I’ve been taking dabke classes in lower Manhattan. The class usually consists of a mix of first- and second-gen Arabs in their 20s and 30s, Arab-adjacent folks (via their friends or significant other), and at least one [unspicy] white, keffiyeh-clad DSA member.
Yes, there is always one of these token allies who show up with either an actual keffiyeh or some article of clothing with a keffiyeh pattern, and who can’t dance for sh*t. Remember, these are always white people without any ethnic spice—no oregano, no tzatziki, no azafran, not even any corned beef and cabbage—just an Anglo or formerly ethnic white who lost all of their sazon in the sludgy melting pot that is American assimiliationism. And so, they are incapable of discerning the rhythm of the dabke percussion pattern and find themselves trying-but-failing to dance along.
At the last class, the token DSA member (a pasty white twink) not only wore a keffiyeh bandana around his neck, but also wore a Zohran headband and a covid mask. Needless to say, he couldn’t dance for his life (but bless his heart from trying!).
Sadly, there are still many DSA members who have yet to realize that they have made a meme out of themselves—one that is cringe, lacks integrity, and that has been rendered the booty of many jokes