The Groan on identity politics.
Identity politics doesn’t deserve Lionel Shriver’s contempt, but it can be limiting
Au contraire, contempt is precisely what it deserves, in bucket-loads and then some more. It does not deserve oxygen. It is the manure that the SJWs use to silence critics, to erode and destroy the fabric of society, to demonise and crush free speech and expression. It is pure, unadulterated evil. It needs to be snuffed out completely.
It is actually illuminating to have Shriver illustrate so clearly not why cultural appropriation doesn’t exist, as was her intention, but why it is problematic. Shriver sneers at the idea of asking permission to write a character from another race and culture, wondering whether writers should approach “passers by with a clipboard, getting signatures that grant limited rights”. It’s not about permission. And it’s not about technical boundaries. It’s about the humility with which a writer approaches such a character.
Shriver is correct. The very idea of cultural appropriation is bollocks on stilts. Cultures have absorbed ideas from each other since we first dropped out of the trees. Long may it continue. So, no, we don’t need to ask permission and, no, we don’t need to check our privilege. We should do as we damned well want to and if people don’t like it, they may be free to say so, but that’s it.
The rest of the risible article was described adroitly by one of the commenters below the line:
Guardian poop sandwich, two poor articles sandwiching the common sense one.
The sensible one being Shriver’s.
The reason I am growing optimistic is that, once again, an article is crucified below the line. When you cannot longer convince your natural allies of a cause, maybe it’s time to throw in the towel…
Identity politics is all the things it claims to oppose. It’s racist, because it drives a PC-wedge between people of all colour skins. It’s also sexist because it creates a divide between the sexes, rather than let individuals form relationships on their own terms.
It’s long been said that the Mail must be deliberately trolling its readers; perhaps the practice has spread.