The circular self cannibalizing firing squad that is modern identity politics. [View all]

[Kurska]

Every social movement to have ever gained success in the united states in modern history has required a rainbow coalition of all people and creeds. That is why recent events have left me absolutely dumbfounded. Police brutality, the prison industrial system and entrenched systematic racism are all incredibly important issues. Yet, we're undermining these issues with our tactics. We're turning every question into X vs. Y. I understand the point of pride. I know a huge part of succeeding in a struggle for rights is to present yourself as an individual with dignity and respect for what you are. It is a way to empower people and reject shame that bigots thrust at you. I don't know at what point that morphed into the idea that you also need to attack other people for their basic qualities, but it is increasingly turning into that.

I can't speak as a POC, but as a gay man, I saw that the biggest advance in gay rights occurred when we got out the narrative that gay people were normal people and our enemies are ideologically driven extremists. We let our enemies look ridiculous and hateful, while we presented tolerance and an eagerness for inclusion of others. People like the calm reasoned voice, not the hateful hollering one. Right now it feels like that strategy is no-where near the top of the list of modern identity politics. It is nothing but division and self-harm for the sake of "resistance". There is absolutely zero focus on what is effective. It is a kind of bewildering political hedonism. It might feel really good to storm the stage and call thousands of people you don't know racist, but what does it actually accomplish?

I don't think I've ever seen a political action that so effectively and quickly tuned people out to important messages. The police are absolutely out of control and we're imprisoning people in a stupid and self-destructive war on crime. How do you end this by turning off entirely huge segments of the population most inclined to support you?

I think it really is time to start focusing on basic dignity and the importance of transcending differences to confront the profound injustices of our society. Right now we're engaged in a kind of perverse divide and shatter approach. It isn't even divide and conquer, we're doing it to ourselves.