by John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Identity Politics in the 1930s pushed a racist ideology saying that Jews were “parasitic vermin” worthy only of eradication. Identity Politics 2021 pushes a racist ideology stating white people need to be eradicated.”
Wherever you are on the spectrum of fact or fantasy in our culture, some answer to the perplexity is deserved.
A bird’s-eye survey of our current situation reveals a struggle, decades in time, between two incompatible positions—there is neither compromise nor appeasement that will reconcile these two positions. These two positions are either Freedom or Fascism. The conflict ends only when one is terminated.
The current cultural conflict focuses on transforming the foundation of the American culture. Our nation’s greatness grew from the fact that diverse nationalities came together and formed a union in America’s “melting pot.” As each person came into America he was assimilated into the core fabric of our national culture—there was a shared language, dress, moral ethos, work ethic, and dreams. This “melting pot” led to America’s greatness because it focused on the priorities of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by the individual. These objectives were couched by a firm belief in the rule and reign of the Almighty God in the citizenry and the fact that maintaining these objectives was the responsibility of each individual citizen.
The success of the American system became the envy of the world (and it is still the envy of the world as myriads march to enter our nation however, in February I was in Eastern Europe and was asked, “Things in America have changed in the last years and it is not as it once was. Right?”). The formula for our nation’s success was impracticable in Europe, Central America, Asia, or any other location. These were steeped in a governing that denied the individual and thus prevented the key factor for success found only in the New World. These governments saw the success of America but refused to reform and provide the environment necessary. This refusal ignited resentment against the culture that made the USA so unique.
There were a number of historical forces attacking the national foundations that made the USA the envy of the world. Among the many historical attacks, I believe three are most significant.
Atheism arose and challenged the Judeo-Christian foundation. Communism arose challenging the American work ethic. Socialism arose challenging the individual’s responsibility for success or failure. With each of these attacks the foundation that gave the USA strength and success was compromised. Slowly the governing system, judicial system, educational system, religious structures, and civil fabric were transformed. The “melting pot” ceased assimilating and the national unity was fractured. Lost were the uniting factors of language, dress, morality and religious core that had highlighted America’s “melting pot” union.
Worldwide conflicts marked the century’s change from the 1800s into the 1900s. This paradigm shift created havoc as the settled certainties of civilization were attacked. The anarchy spawned by the godless French Revolution, metastasized worldwide. The turn of the century was marked by anarchists in religion (repudiation of God), governments (repudiation of governing systems) and education (repudiation of reason and exaltation of “expressionism”).
Unlike other nations in chaos during this time, the USA was initially insulated from a major invasion of these anarchist threats. But history shows that these malignancies eventually invaded and corrupted our Republic. A number of sociological phenomena combined and changed the basic core values that had made America a great nation.
Eventually a spirit of anarchy ignited and attacked the judicial, educational, and religious systems and the moral fabric was compromised. The “counter-culture revolution” was aptly named—it stood for the opposite of every law, value and ethnos that had made America great. Entertainment united to shock America’s modesty and shame her morality. The boast of “freedom” was corrupted to advocate actions, beliefs and morality that were shameful.
The elevation of bigoted education and false science to an idolatrous level spurred on the compromises in morality and religion. Consequently our national conscience was desensitized.
The counter-culture of the 1960s graduated into academia. Scorn became the customary tone for morality and religion while “personal freedom” was presented as the only true virtue. The message was that any restriction on personal freedom was contrary to the American way (the sexual revolution and drug use became the vanguards pushing this new freedom). The visibility of this frightening fruit of a warped freedom is today shouted by the anarchistic mobs, “Whose streets? Our streets!” The Rule of Law has been replaced by personal anarchy! Academia became the final voice of authority in this revolution. And, the educators were unquestioned even though their positions hid behind invalid accusations.
In 2018 David Horowitz accurately chronicled the devastation of academia upon the American culture:
“Since the seventies, the radical movement had been establishing a political base in the universities, purging conservative faculty and texts, and transforming scholarly disciplines into political training programs. These leftist indoctrination programs are referred to as ‘oppression studies,’ ‘social justice studies,’ ‘feminist studies,’ ‘whiteness studies,’ and the like.” (Dark Agenda, 124)
This malignant educational process erased the singular concept that made America great—it vanquished the fact that individuals are personally responsible. Personal responsibility was replaced by teaching that values regarding good and bad are determined only by group identity! Basically, this says that one’s entire person (beliefs; values; self-worth; significance; etc) is determined ONLY by the group with which he is identified. IF one is identified with a particular group THEN that one is valued only by what that group identifies! The concept of individual merit is cursed. You cease to be an individual. If you are identified as a part of a group then it does not matter if you agree with the group or not.
The irony of this madness is seen in how the leftist’s “identity politics” boomerangs! A number of articles have reported on how identity of “whiteness” precludes support and identifying with “blackness.” Perhaps the most well know of these is the former Spokane, Washington NAACP President Rachel Dolezal who admitted in 2015 that she is white, despite publicly claiming to be black for years. “I acknowledge that I was biologically born white to white parents, but I identify as black.” Regardless of the personal choice, the personal choice is denied by the Leftist “identity politics.” Sorry Rachel Dolezal but your individuality to “identify as black” is rejected by your identity politics! You are assigned to a group and regardless if your personal actions and attitudes, you must accept this assignment!
When personal choice and individual responsibility are replaced by group/identity, the very foundation upon which America was made great is destroyed!
When one removes the individual and focuses only on the group, evil quickly follows. Such is illustrated by the fascists in Hitler’s Germany. Individually the Jewish person ceased to exist. All that existed was a “group” labeled by a racist ideology saying that Jews were “parasitic vermin” worthy only of eradication. The “Identity Politic” of fascist Germany was pure evil!
It is evil to assign carte blanc damnation to an entire group based upon the identity of that group! But the Leftist academia and politicians have energetically embraced such evil and have been permitted to practice an arrogant racism in the USA! They have been applauded for such actions and EVEN rewarded by corporate businesses that reward anyone in a certain group and ignore other groups.
A recent article in the Daily Wire illustrates the deplorable depth to which “identity politics” has taken academia. Chrissy Clark observes, “A Virginia public school district’s equity lead sent out a graphic claiming that Christians are privileged and women, children, and people over the age of 50 experience ‘oppression.’ Lottie Spurlock, the equity director for Loudoun County Public School District — one of the most affluent school districts in the nation — passed out a graphic that used immutable characteristics to divide people into two groups — oppressed and privileged.”
According to Clark’s article here are the two groups into which modern America is to be placed:
These are identified as the “privileged”:
- Men
- White People
- Christians
- Heterosexual
- 20-50 Year Olds
- U.S. Born
- Owning/Middle- or High-Income Background
- Currently Able-Bodied
- College Educated or Parents College Educated
- Not Adopted or Foster Child
- English as a Primary Language
- “Average” or “Thin” (referencing weight)
- Lighter Complexioned People of the Same Race
These are identified as the “oppressed”:
- Women
- Children
- People of Color
- Non-Christians
- Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Queer
- Gender Non-conforming
- 50 Years and Older
- Immigrant
- Working Class/Lower Income Background
- Disabled
- Not College Educated or Parents Not College Educated
- Single Parent or Raised by a Single Parent
- Adopted or Foster Child
- English as a Second Language
- “Overweight”
- Darker Complexioned People of the Same Race
We are where we are today because the individual has been replaced with group identity. The individual’s personal responsibility has been replaced with group victimization (this victimization rationalizes and excuses incivility). The concepts of individual life, liberty, and happiness have been replaced with group autonomy. The individual’s duty to think and reason has been replaced by group think.
In Columbia, Missouri, on October 30, 2008, Barack Obama stated, “We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” Lottie Spurlock’s equity directive for the Loudoun County Public School would certainly applaud Obama’s words.
The reality of the Leftist “Identity Politics” is illustrated by a troubling article describing how a candidate for student government at Stanford University posted racist threats, including “white people need to be eradicated,” then apparently deleted the account when caught. This is the same identity politic that the Fascists in Hitler’s Germany used to torture and murder millions who were not “useful” for their evil ways.
Historically proven is the fact that eventually the favored “group” is exposed and is held accountable for its evil upon the other “groups” it sought to “eradicate.” “Justice” is blind and holds scales that are eventually balanced.
The United States of America has been fundamentally transformed because the Fascists of the Left have removed personal responsibility and cast all into group identity. Today certain “groups” are applauded as they burn and destroy BUT other “groups” are arrested, harassed as they gather in large numbers and voice concerns. The “peaceable” group utilizes arson, intimidation, calls for violence and stir a manipulative fear. The “domestic terrorist” group utilizes mass gatherings without conflict, no intimidation, and no violence.
Things today have definitely been “fundamentally transformed.” And, it does not take a crystal ball to see that no matter how bad things are now, they will devolve to an even greater decadency unless justice is meted and evil is punished.
John L. Kachelman, Jr. can be reached at his website Kachelman Family Resources and Materials.
