Senate Rise Up To The "Identity Politics" Thread

A lovely controversial topic to get us in the mood..

Q: Is 'identity politics' supportive or harmful to the promotion of equality in society?

 

Oh, look, the Internet's favorite topic!

I'm going to be watching this thread like a hawk. Be an ass = say goodbye to the forums for at least one week.

 

Well, what do you think of it? It would be interesting in hearing your perspective on it since you created the topic.

 

The problem isn't "identity politics." It's liberals thinking that's all there is and ignoring broad economic justice and failing to connect them.

 

I think it is misunderstood; it can be beneficial, but as @Darth Guy said - some can take it too far. In the UK, it is very much a fringe topic (from what I can tell).

 

Prior to Trump getting elected, I would've said no (or at least keep it toned down to a certain extent), since it looked like the country was going in the right direction anyway. Now that we have a racist, homophobic bastard for a president, I've changed my mind.

 

I voted "I don't know". I see it as a mixed blessing. A blessing benefiting and recognizing marginalized and oppressed groups and empowering them unlike before, but also a consequence that it militates against a solidarity and commonality across racial, gendered, ethnic lines. How do you have a broad-based common good and equality for all people if you are giving everything to our differences and not our similarities?

 

What is the definition of "identity politics" that you're working from, @DANNASUK?

 

The same can be said of so-called "progressives" that think that economic justice / income inequality is a one-stop shop for fixing all of societies ills, as if abortion, gay rights, racism, etc. aren't also economic issues (especially abortion).

 

HIRE (clap) MORE (clap) WOMAN (clap) DEBT (clap) COLLECTORS (clap)

Yeah, it's a ridiculously complex topic, so I also went with "don't know." It's obviously not the panacea that is going to fix all of our societal ills, as my joke above illustrates, yet it's obvious (or should be!) that the Left can not ignore them just because Marx barely touched them more than once century ago. I do think there's always an economical substrate, but using that as an excuse to ignore the reality of racism or homophobia and saying that "they would all be gone post-scarcity" is more than a bit disingenuous.

I don't know. The more I read, the more academics I listen to, the more involved I get with local activist groups, the more I get into my own identitary issues... the more clear I have my position, but I still have a long way to walk.

What? You thought this crap was easy? Please.

 

It is good for people who are discriminated against to make it known, band together, and point out who/what is helping and who/what is hurting.

Having said that, I've seen some extreme cases (rare, becoming more common, but still rare) that just take it too far, and it hurts their case and alienates potential allies and sometimes even current allies.

There needs to be a healthy balance. Politics shouldn't only consist of identity, but it shouldn't be ignored. I think there's a way to go into identity politics without alienating potential allies.

(Voted "Don't Know")

 

I'm baffled this question did not get an unambivalent "no." from everybody. I'm not interested in any kind of 'awareness' in these movies. Not about the issues mentioned, not about the environment, not about horrible diseases that people cope with, or about anything else that Oprah did a show on. I wouldn't bother to get invested in that.

I'm actually glad Tarkin did Alderaan clean 'n' quick, and the movie wasn't about the plight of the survivors.

 

And we're off!

 

Oops. Spoke too soon!

 

Hi, welcome to the Jedi Council. Apart from the pinned thread, the Community boards are not for the discussion of Star Wars. Take your time around the place and get to know the rules, and things will go smoothly. Thanks!

 

Can you say that in US Politics once in a while, too?

 

You can quote me if necessary.

 

#TarkinDidNothingWrong

 

a tendency for people of a particular religion, race, social background, etc., to form exclusive political alliances, moving away from traditional broad-based party politics.

 

I'm calling new bloke as Gun rights activist, being unaware of privilege in general and also a Trump supporter.


Personally, I'm in the don't know camp.


I can see why identity politics becomes a thing as something so important to you becomes the be all and end all but I'm concerned that this leads to politics/votes for pandering.


e.g. I'm voting for them as they'll give me my rights for X and that's all that matters to me
Ignores the fact that same politics remove XYZ from everyone else

(extreme version)



Narrow focus is bad in the long term in some ways but can have a massive impact in the short term.
(fully aware that YMMV and that some stances do need to be the long game as we wait on older less tolerant people to die)