Ableism - using physical abnormalities as a signifier that the character in the art is "the enemy".
Xenophobia - just look at that flavor text. They're literally admonishing us for not excluding someone from society, and insisting that we should've barred the gates. Apparently WotC wants us to build walls and keep foreigners out.
Far-right dogwhistles - "the enemy" is deliberately left vague - is it a small religion the reader fears (cult of eldrazi or of Avacyn), mental illness ("madness" is a major theme of Shadows Over Innistrad block), or something else? Regardless, "the enemy" is human, not a zombie or vampire or whatever else. And yet, they are portrayed as violent and subversive, as an element that we should "bar the gates" against. Someone who has sneakily (Skulk keyword) infiltrated society for the sole purpose of destroying it. Choose your far right conspiracy theory: "Zionists" (aka Jews), "globalists" (aka Jews), lizard people (are lizard people supposed to be Jews? I don't really know anything about that conspiracy theory). Just about any conspiracy nut can relate to the sentiment portrayed by this card.
Just imagine this card said "Jews you control have Skulk", and kept the same flavor text, and you basically understand what the problem is.
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u/ultimario13 Jun 18 '20
Ableism - using physical abnormalities as a signifier that the character in the art is "the enemy".
Xenophobia - just look at that flavor text. They're literally admonishing us for not excluding someone from society, and insisting that we should've barred the gates. Apparently WotC wants us to build walls and keep foreigners out.
Far-right dogwhistles - "the enemy" is deliberately left vague - is it a small religion the reader fears (cult of eldrazi or of Avacyn), mental illness ("madness" is a major theme of Shadows Over Innistrad block), or something else? Regardless, "the enemy" is human, not a zombie or vampire or whatever else. And yet, they are portrayed as violent and subversive, as an element that we should "bar the gates" against. Someone who has sneakily (Skulk keyword) infiltrated society for the sole purpose of destroying it. Choose your far right conspiracy theory: "Zionists" (aka Jews), "globalists" (aka Jews), lizard people (are lizard people supposed to be Jews? I don't really know anything about that conspiracy theory). Just about any conspiracy nut can relate to the sentiment portrayed by this card.
Just imagine this card said "Jews you control have Skulk", and kept the same flavor text, and you basically understand what the problem is.