House of Eratosthenes

On the last day of 2007, I bitched and moaned about identity politics. The science of…or the instinct to…elevate figures to high office, based not on their true qualifications for that office, but based on their perceived resemblance to me, me, me, me, me, me, me and me.

If there is an extent to which this is justifiable, or even can be simply defended from criticism, I believe we have passed that point a long time ago. What still lies ahead has a lot more to do with extremism than moderation…God knows where it ends. Either over a cliff, or more innocuously, into a cul de sac. All these possibilities suggest turning ’round and heading back is a worthy idea.

It has certainly gotten more than a little bit silly.

Someone Like Me Via Bookworm, we learn about Jonah Goldberg’s thoughts on the issue. Maybe he reads The Blog That Nobody Reads.

What Americans really want when they look into a politician’s eyes is to see their own images reflected back, like in Narcissus’ pool. The presidency in particular has become the highest ground in the culture war. Americans want a candidate who validates them personally. “I’m voting for him because he’s a hunter like me.” “I’m backing her because she’s a woman too.” “I’m for that guy because he’s angry like me.” Such sentiments have colored the presidential contest for so long, they’ve saturated it like stain into wood.

Bookworm adds her own thoughts:

Years ago, I attended a Peter, Paul & Mary concert. Noel Paul did a semi-humorous anecdote that stuck with me. He commented on the titles of fluffy magazines at the supermarket checkout stand. They used to be things like Mademoiselle and Glamour and People. Then came Us. Self quickly followed. What next, he asked? A magazine entitled Me which, when opened, contains nothing but a shiny foil in which you can admire your reflection? Paul was prescient but he got the forum wrong. It wasn’t in the world of magazines that this was going to happen. In magazines, instead, we got to read about someone else admire her own wonderfulness: Oprah, Martha, Rosie. Nope, it turns out that where the “me” phenomenon hit was the world of politics, and if that doesn’t make the hairs on the back of your next stand up with horror, you’ve got nerves of steel.

Be they inspired by my original belly-aching, or not, Goldberg and Bookworm have added such worthy observations to this train of thought, and so eloquently, that I have nothing further to add.

Except one thing.

We’re reaching a high-water mark on this “identity politics” thing, in the Age of the Blogger. One of the things for which bloggers are criticized most reliably, I see, is the ability that others have of seeing what they have to say. In fact, the criticism for bloggers that is surplus beyond that, rings somewhat hollow — bloggers are not criticized for the content of their remarks, quite so much as for the visibility thereof.

It is supposed to be the ultimate egocentric exercise. Putting your opinions in a place where others can see them. Even though, I notice with some bemusement, just about everyone would shudder in fear for entirely decent reasons, at the thought of a society in which this was proscribed.

Therefore, I make the following observation about the times in which we seem to be living:

To inject your personality into an official occupying a high office with virtually unlimited power, specifically for the purpose of marginalizing others who are not like you, is entirely acceptable. To inject that same personality into words, that are simply to available to be read — optionally — by strangers, is an activity looked upon, by many if not most, as repugnant and loathsome.

Does that just about capture it?

If so, does it make sense to anyone?

And if so, could they kindly explain it to me?

Not bad. Not bad at all.
- philmon | 01/10/2008 @ 11:31
Well, enough about you.
- vanderleun | 01/10/2008 @ 20:17
What does it matter, on The Blog That Nobody Reads?
- mkfreeberg | 01/10/2008 @ 21:35

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Someone Like MeThursday, January 10th, 2008

Someone Like Me
Thursday, January 10th, 2008