[POLITICS] Question for discussion: What is "Identity Politics?"

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
09/16/2018 at 11:39 • Filed to: None

1976 Cadillac Eldorado Bicentennial Edition

It seems to me that, in the context of the most common narratives nowadays, identity politics is more or less following or voting for or campaigning as a candidate or ideal or party that is non white male and having that non white male part as a plank, whether implicit or explicit. What say you?

DISCUSSION (21)

Spanfeller is a twat > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/16/2018 at 12:06

Identity politcs is based on blaming others for things happening to you because of an atribute they can’t control (race, nationality, religion, etc)

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Spanfeller is a twat
09/16/2018 at 12:09

If that’s the case, white Christian males are the biggest drivers of identity politics here in the states.

Spanfeller is a twat > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
09/16/2018 at 12:12

Mexican christians also play a big role in politics, specially in very christian areas like Guadalajara and Puebla. they claim that the nation’s downfall is caused by a “morality” crisis, they also control the very annying and fucked up “family front” an antigay, anti abortion organization.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/16/2018 at 12:17

As a white hetero cis-male with a catholic upbringing and no religious affiliation, I see identity politics as an important part of the landscape. What happens too often is that people conflate it as a single-issue platform.

I don’t know what it’s like to be anything but me. But I’m frequently around people who are different from me. The school where I’m student teaching is about 80% nonwhite but more than half the teachers are white. This is a problem because representation is important. It’s crucial for children to see people who could be their own family in positions of authority.

I think that it’s also important for the LGBT+ community because so many people in power have the idea that they deserve to be punished for who they are.

The narrative that “identity politics,” is something that’s just anti-white-male is only being pushed by white males who are angry that they only have most of the power instead of all of it.

RPM esq. > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/16/2018 at 12:34

That its literal DEFINITION is exactly what you say it is but that its only SIGNIFICANCE is as a dog whistle to people who think candidates who aren’t straight, Christian white males are inherently bad. I don’t think I’ve ever heard or seen it used in any other way.

wafflesnfalafel > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/16/2018 at 12:35

yep - tribalism. Usually used to describe a situation where political actions are defined by the minority group you identify yourself with to the point where they may not even be in the individuals self interest. And it isn’t new - it’s a pretty basic human behavioral reaction, mitigated in part within modern societies with education, critical thinking skills, etc . And it isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just a thing. The issue comes when others exploit that reaction.

DipodomysDeserti > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/16/2018 at 12:39

Identity politics is when political movements try to attact people based on their identities rather than specific policy points.

People of all races/religions/sexual orientation/genders do this. Not sure why you think it only applies to nonwhite, non-males. Anyone who has ever gone to a white, conservative Christian church has seen the white male version of identity politics.

Urambo Tauro > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/16/2018 at 12:48

Never thought to look up the actual definition, but I always assumed that it meant ignoring the bigger picture in order to focus on one particular aspect of politics that one identifies with .

Say you’re trying to decide who to vote for , and instead of researching all of a particular candidate’s polici es to see if they’d be right for the job , you just look to see if they support specific things that you gravitate towards.

duurtlang > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/16/2018 at 13:21

Identity politics is observing an actual wrong, blowing it out of proportion, grouping people into classes they are born into (actions don’t matter) and creating an us-against-them narrative and thus creating a fake enemy. It’s the 21st century racism (and no, I’m not insinuating actual racism is not a problem anymore)

You don’t judge someone on how they were born, you judge them on their actions. Period. If you observe an actual problem (like racism or sexism or ...) you address the actual problem. If X Muslims treat women poorly you don’t blame all male Muslims, just the ones that treat women poorly . If X people of European descent are racist against people of African descent you don’t blame all people of European descent, just those that are racists. If Christians mistreat gay people.... You know where I’m going with this. It really is quite simple.

Don't blame individuals based on what other individuals have done.

Identity politics is utterly toxic.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Spanfeller is a twat
09/16/2018 at 15:45

Can you make up an example for me to illustrate?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
09/16/2018 at 15:48

So, “I have an identity that is not being represented in politics and I am lining up behind this platform or candidate or party because I can find something closer to my identity there?” is identity politics? I see the IP label as straight white men in power crying reverse racism .

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RPM esq.
09/16/2018 at 15:51

That’s certainly my take. Along with All Lives Matter. And I see all of this judicial originalism as a mechanism to keep things status quo, as set up by the original white (slave owning) men. And if what I am suggesting is really the case, then bombshell: the Constitution of the United States is an inherently racist document, though that might be an unintended consequence rather than an aim.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > wafflesnfalafel
09/16/2018 at 15:54

Can we discuss this distinction more? Tribalism versus Identity Politics?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti
09/16/2018 at 15:59

I was trying to keep my initial post very concise. I think I hear the straight white (supposedly) Christian males howling Identity politics! the most shrilly and maybe the only ones predominately complaining about it at all . I think the other side is yelling White nationalism! predominately.

Anyone who has ever gone to a white, conservative Christian church has seen the white male version of identity politics.

I think they definitely would chafe at being described that way. I think what we are talking about is playing race cards, or not playing race cards, or simply recognizing differences in race, or denying the same.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Urambo Tauro
09/16/2018 at 16:00

Or simply voting for them because they’re Black. Or Brown. Or White. Or Famale. Or White. Or Male. Or Christian and for little or no other reason. Or campaigning for the same single reasons.

DipodomysDeserti > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/16/2018 at 17:04

As a wise man once said, “ the loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room.”

White supremecy , aka “white nationalist”, would be an extreme example of identity politics. Look at the recent comments by the governor of Maine for an example of this.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-us-canada-37204837

Spanfeller is a twat > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/16/2018 at 17:22

What Hitler did, what Trump did.

When democrats push minority/female candidates it is a bit of a statement of the lack of particular representation, and while it is tied to identity, I don’t think they’re blaming white people, as much as the system. I didn’t follow Ocassio Cortez that closely, but I don’t think her primary was about the whiteness of her rival, nor did her rival complain about it, in fact, he celebrated it.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti
09/16/2018 at 17:25

Yes, but they would not admit it as such. A conservative friend, someone with actual connections in DC, someone who has sat at the table at SCOTUS, someone who is female, wished aloud to me that Amy Coney Barrett nad been nominated to SCOTUS because woman. I think this is entirely reasonable an assertion. I also think this is the very definition of identity politics.

Ash78, voting early and often > DipodomysDeserti
09/16/2018 at 20:00

I’ve never seen a pastor push for any candidate before — way too risky. But a lot of value do align with “certain politicians” (or the other way around, because pandering).

But I’ve predomantly attended a Methodist church, which from its beginnings was one of the most inclusive denominations and most involved in diverse missions and outreach . We’re probably pretty moderate-to-liberal by Deep South standards. A female pastor, a gay choir director, etc.

Still doesn’t explain Trump’s popularity with evangelicals...

BigBlock440 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/16/2018 at 20:19

That’s exactly what identity politics is, “vote for me because I’m [member of a group here], ignore my actual policies”.

DipodomysDeserti > Ash78, voting early and often
09/16/2018 at 21:22

The church I grew up going to wouldn’t even let women speak in front of the congregation. Pastors had no problem supporting candidates. Had some money launders and child molestors working in the church, but definitely no openly gay people.