Ever since the primary wars, which effectively pitted the competing claims of sexism versus racism as the more important injustice of American political life, I've been coming to the conclusion that identity politics has become unproductive in political discourse, and that claims of competing victimhood miss the bigger picture.
We all suffer when injustices are committed against any group.
Forgive me while I use two diaries as an analogy. This is not to start a flamewar, or to pick on any individuals. It is just an example of how two people, with progressive causes at heart, can both be focused on different issues, and still seeking the same thing: justice and an end to discrimination.
A while back a respected diarist on this site wrote an excellent diary on her experiences of prejudices because of a hearing disability. I recc'ed, rated and commented favourably on this eye opening and important diary.
Today, another respected diarist writes about the denial of human rights involved in solitary confinement, and points out the relatively high number of African Americans both suffering from this abuse, and those activists who fight against it.
Once again - the injustice taints us all. These rights are indivisible.
Let's be clear, also, both diarists were reacting to what they perceived as insensitive comments made by other people on this site.
However, it seems that some progressives see this emphasis on black suffering in prison is somehow a form of inverse racism: i.e. it neglects the suffering of white prisoners and those who lobby to protect them.
It's a sad state of affairs when we have to chose between injustices: both are wrong. Both taint our nations and effectively infringe the human rights of all.
One commenter, who I often disagree with, but who has a brilliant penchant for getting to the heart of the matter, put the prison issue thusly.
I take this thread as demeaning the seriousness of people's concern over Manning
It's a fair point. But to help us all begin to imagine the reverse equation, I imagined if I had commented on the diary about discrimination against the those with hearing disabilities:
I take this diary on Audism as demeaning the seriousness of people's concern over Racism
Of course, that would rightly be seen as provocative, as the worst kind of zero sum game of special interest identity politics. Because someone is passionate about economic exploitation by banks, or Israel Palestine, or Homophobia, does not mean they are not also passionately against racism, sexism or torture.
In the last two weeks, with an exodus of AA writers from this site, something which the administration too seems to be concerned about, I would urge all you passionate people to see that these rights are ultimately indivisible.
If you feel that you are somehow excluded from diaries about racism, or even feel your are being impugned in some way, try imagining comments on a a diary about audism from someone who says; "I feel discriminated against by deaf people. They talk in sign language I don't understand."
Just as inequality actually impoverishes both the poor and the rich in where it is rife (see The Spirit Level by Wilkinson and Pickett), we are all affected when injustices take place, because they demean our human dignity. I'm not black or deaf, but I know these groups are minorities in the societies where we both live, and the overwhelming injustices are to do with majorities tyrannising minorities through their numbers, power, greater economic clout, and the stifling dynamics of the majority consensus.