Fascinating discussion, though my perspective differs....
FWIW, I’ve fought all my adult life to advance a recognition that there's nothing "Queer" about same-sex attraction. I’m attracted to guys; I’ve never hidden that fact, and (as my parents raised me) I’m proud simply to be myself. I never signed up to "smash cisheteropatriarchy" in the name of some Brave New World.
As a Jew, I don't get offended if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas -- though (if the occasion seems opportune) I might crack a wry joke.
So who needs "identity"?
Community is a resultant vector, not a container. It's the outcome of tolerance, of a multitude of interactions among a panoply of individuals acting in good faith -- each grounded in self-esteem -- as they come to know each other (complete with a sense of humor and goodwill), day-by-day.
This has applied to (and has been applied by!) countless immigrants -- Italians and Jews, or their (arguably respective) West Coast counterparts, Latinos and Chinese. (So much for "whiteness" vs "people of color.")
As for past injustices? You don't heal a wound (no matter how itchy!) by picking at the scab.
Both sides in today's so-called culture wars are running a protection racket, stirring up fear. We pick each other to pieces over "pronouns" and "privilege" -- as meanwhile, the oligarchs keep laughing all the way to the bank. No thanks!
Live and let live. That's liberalism, plain and simple. Got a problem with that?
Fascinating discussion, though my perspective differs....
FWIW, I’ve fought all my adult life to advance a recognition that there's nothing "Queer" about same-sex attraction. I’m attracted to guys; I’ve never hidden that fact, and (as my parents raised me) I’m proud simply to be myself. I never signed up to "smash cisheteropatriarchy" in the name of some Brave New World.
As a Jew, I don't get offended if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas -- though (if the occasion seems opportune) I might crack a wry joke.
So who needs "identity"?
Community is a resultant vector, not a container. It's the outcome of tolerance, of a multitude of interactions among a panoply of individuals acting in good faith -- each grounded in self-esteem -- as they come to know each other (complete with a sense of humor and goodwill), day-by-day.
This has applied to (and has been applied by!) countless immigrants -- Italians and Jews, or their (arguably respective) West Coast counterparts, Latinos and Chinese. (So much for "whiteness" vs "people of color.")
As for past injustices? You don't heal a wound (no matter how itchy!) by picking at the scab.
Both sides in today's so-called culture wars are running a protection racket, stirring up fear. We pick each other to pieces over "pronouns" and "privilege" -- as meanwhile, the oligarchs keep laughing all the way to the bank. No thanks!
Live and let live. That's liberalism, plain and simple. Got a problem with that?