Divided We Fall

“Identity politics discards the human identity that unites everyone. It does not acknowledge the common-sense reality that we all share a common human nature, which leaves the illusion that finding common ground is impossible. Real individuals are treated as instantiations of abstract categories, walking chunks of whiteness and blackness, masculinity and femininity, oppression and victimhood, not real embodied individuals with unique minds, bodies, souls, and personal agency.” Robert C. Thornett, college and secondary social sciences instructor and a graduate of the Master's program in Great Books at St. John's College

“Identity politics rejects the model of traditional give-and-take politics, presupposing instead that the most important thing about us is that we are white, black, male, female, straight, gay, and so on.” Joshua Mitchell, professor of political theory at Georgetown University

Identity politics is alive and well in our little town, and it’s tearing us apart.

Painted crosswalks and political flags are a tool of identity politics, highlighting our differences and creating a group mentality rather than bringing us together in community. We call them a “tool” because when people speak out against the political symbol of one of these groups, they are seen as anti that group identity. For example, if Peter doesn’t want a Pride crosswalk, he must be homophobic. If Jane doesn’t want a disability pride crosswalk, she must be an ablest. If John doesn’t want a pro-life flag flown, he must hate pro-lifers or babies, or both. If Jennifer doesn’t think an indigenous flag should be flown, she’s racist.

Do you see the lunacy of this kind of politicking?
We separate people into groups of oppressed and oppressor. By participating in identity politics, and allowing tools of identity politics to be used in our town, Town Council is unwittingly allowing residents to demonize one another, deepening and entrenching divisions within the community.

One county resident had a discussion with the town’s CAO, Edward LeBlanc, regarding crosswalks, and as he questioned this residents’ concerns, she “felt he had instantly assumed I was an oppressor, anti-gay – or homophobic that sort of label… I feel as if I’m not an oppressor, indeed nothing of the sort. But what I am is concerned and so much so that I have been called to action for what is happening to my hometown and the division between the labeled “oppressors” and “the oppressed” and the split it is causing in the community. I am especially concerned with the division it is causing when its being served up by my small hometown mayor and councilors on its doorstep…. this shouldn’t be allowed – the painting of crosswalks – it shouldn’t have religious or Christian symbols either – all it’s doing is creating a divide in our community.”

A neutrality bylaw must be created to help us as a town, to help us as a community of people, to live together peaceably, without looking questioningly at each other if they support our politics, religion or social movements or not. Why should we highlight that which divides us? Why should we look at some in our community as oppressed, oppressors, or allies, as bigots or racists? We are all human beings and we all bleed red.

The political tribalism needs to stop, and it needs to stop first and foremost with our Town Council. Stop highlighting groups that divide and differences that keep us suspicious of each other. Let crosswalks be crosswalks rather than statement pieces. Fly flags that do not separate and divide but flags that we recognize as flags of the country, province and place we call home. Keep our public government owned buildings free of political regalia of identity politics. Let’s do this so we can all live together in community.