We are in the middle of a fairly ugly election here. We have parties: we have a surfeit of parties — and the issue of ethnic parties is raising its ugly head. It is baked into our immigration policies and proportional representation. But the methods of identity politics are simple.
Ugly, but simple. Get as much for my tribe as possible. Call all others whatever it takes to get them.
All else does not matter. What matters is what is good for my tribe.
Identity politics are the rules of the game in all sufficiently multiracial and multireligious societies. Sort out your identity, build your alliances, pass laws that favor your identity, and screw everyone else.
Shivani uses the word “depoliticization” improperly. What he really means is “deideologicization”.
In any event, identity politics have been baked in the cake since 1965.
Within the church, this should not apply. There will be national churches. There will be differences in congregations, because of different traditions. This has always been accepted — and always led to division. We are fallen. We look too much to appearances. We care too much about status. And we therefore miss the evil walking among us.
1My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
8You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 9But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Vox Day points out that the alternative right is going to win, because of identity politics. As the imperium denies the need for unity and the need for God, you will end up with enclaves based on ancestry or politics. These can Balkanize, and you have warre: as seen in Yugoslavia two decades ago and Syria now.
The world is in crisis. The Norks now have hydrogen bombs, and are not listening to their masters, who they see has counterrevolutionaries. Ideology still exists. And the state still does what is our duty as families and churches, destroying charity and calling the dole a right, to the destruction of society — no, Jimmy Carter was wrong.
We need to pray. We need to stand in Christ. That this storm will not come. But prepare anyway.
For if the imperial system we have dissolves, our faith, not our skin, should be our uniform.
Faith and tribe. It’s going to come to that, better prepare yourself for that day.