We will always seek out the companionship of others and the friendship of others because we are human and that’s what humans do! But here’s where identity politics gets it all wrong! We don’t seek out others like us, we seek out other individuals like us! Can anything be more obvious? Whenever you’re in a group of people you may feel united at some bond that joins you with other members of the group but you still feel alone. That bond is real and that bond exists. I’m not denying that. But what I am saying is that bond pales into insignificance when it is compared to the true sharing that can occur between individuals. We’re talking quality, not quantity and numbers doesn’t mean anything at all! When you are sharing with another individual you are not alone!
A group of individuals gathered together and sharing because of common interests and bonds that they have is far more powerful and satisfying to the soul than any type of identity politics. Individuals recognize individuals and accept each other as individuals, not as some social force of identity politics.
You can tell me that identity politics allows you to feel as if you belong. You can say that the laws of our government grant rights to the individual, to each one of us. You can say that socialism promises that the work we do will be satisfying and fulfilling to our souls. You can say that liberalism will allow each person to possess the things that they desire in life and to do the things that they desire in life.
But I’ll tell you this. All these things are external authorities that promise to give me something that I already own! I don’t need any of them! I don’t want to be special or have special treatment from you or anybody else. I do not claim any rights above yours and I don’t want to measure myself against you and the things that you do. I could care less. I simply want to be all that I can be and do all that is possible for me to do. I want to have those things that I can get for myself through my own efforts and hold onto them through my own efforts.
What you are doesn’t matter to me. You can be what or whoever you want. I’m not standing in your way and I’m not trying to convince you to believe like I do. I do not believe in an external authority but I do believe in you as an individual! I would like to be your friend!
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