I read an article today that described the rampage of racism currently taking place in the UK. This can be seen in the substantial increase in hate crimes and hate speech, in a growing sense in some circles that it is o.k. to talk and be racist, and the facile blend of religious prejudice with xenophobia. This racism is promoted, very much in working-class communities, by right-wing “influencers” who are attempting to gain political credibility by playing the race card. Poor Britain.

But before we extend “thoughts and prayers” to the United Kingdom, we should first notice that there is a rampage of racism in the United States of America. Racism is a constituent element of MAGA and one of the bases of the popularity of its leader, Trump. We are hearing more and more advocates for White Supremacy and Christian Supremacy. Racist talk is now allowed in many families and communities that earlier were embarrassed to indulge in it. Racism has always disfigured law enforcement to some degree, but now our President has raised his own army of untrained, mostly racist irregulars, I.C.E., whose sole purpose is to expel or subdue people of color and non-Judeo-Christians. The violence sponsored by I.C.E. has so far been limited to murder, beating, kidnapping, and terrorizing non-citizens and citizens alike. If nothing is done, I.C.E. will amplify its violence and extend the range of its victims to include all non-whites and all non-Christians.

So we can and should extend our sympathy to our fellow democracy for its renewal of racism, but we cannot tinge our sympathy with any attitude of moral superiority.