A nation is “a relatively large group of people organized under a single, usually independent government; a country” (American). Not just a large group but a large group that is organized. Currently, the United States has multiple groups voicing out different concerns and beliefs formed through similarities, differences, experiences, and more. Identity politics is the different groups voicing their needs and thoughts in politics. I believe that groups are effective but the way we have them functioning now is not to the best of their abilities. There are people being isolated from groups, smaller groups whose voices are being drowned out by the major groups, and the groups are focusing on themselves in the group and not the country as a whole. Instead of looking at the differences, citizens should look at the similarities and work together. They should see the world as a larger picture in the long term instead of them now in the near future. Improving how groups function in the United States will improve communication between other groups and citizens, improve the nation to help its citizens effectively, and unite citizens in beliefs and leave less room for isolation or discrimination.
Not having experiences where identity politics came into my life naturally, I never pondered it much. I had not cared or placed my beliefs on the race of another person, their gender, or any other way one would identify as. That does not mean that it does not matter to me; it means the opposite. In my own opinion, people are created differently so we can help each other. Otherwise, humans would be able to prosper in separating one from society. Humans need others to survive, not only for producing, but also for emotional support, guidance, or sanity checks. We see that people thrive in communities where they work together under the same “goal” or “belief”. Everyone in that community has a job that they can perform to help the community. If humans were to be created the same and be able to perform the same task, the community would fall apart. Think of it in this way: if everyone knew how to fix their car, then people would not go to the auto shop to get their car fixed. Auto shops would not make a lot of profit and those jobs would not be needed. It is similar to society. Everyone has different talents, skills, and interests that can help the community in different ways. They can choose how they want to contribute. Then uniting those communities with a common goal will help unify the nation while utilizing the groups. In order to keep the groups working in harmony, we need to keep the end goal in mind for the entire nation. Furthermore, having the same goal in mind helps with communication between the groups and keep them on the same track together.
Finding Similarities
Having effective communication between citizens and the government as well as among themselves is vital in a good, self-sustaining nation. Without knowing what the citizens need, the government would not know how to help its citizens. A lack of understanding and communicating the differences among ourselves damages potential relationships and partnerships. Adam Ellwanger, who is an associate professor at the University of Houston where he studies rhetoric and argumentation, said “effective communication depends on shared knowledge and values… when each person becomes a polis of his own, living by a unique set of values, we can no longer communicate with one another,” (Ellwanger). Having different cultures, beliefs, and reasoning is part of being an American, but in being American, we should look for the similarities amongst the differences. When one does not acknowledge and understanding those differences and instead, starts prematurely cutting off people believing that other people’s cultures are “weird” or “confusing,” is not being American. Discussing the differences and similarities between others is great communication. This would lead to citizens finding that they have more in common than believed as well as a common goal. This effective communication leads to a common goal among citizens and then how the nation can improve to help the citizens.
A nation should take citizens’ needs and find a solution to them. To do this effectively, there needs to be communication as was written before. The nation also needs to become a collective and think for the good of the nation. If citizens are divided and wanted things for their advancement, there would be no progress and the citizens would not receive the help that they need. As Ellwanger explains, “a true politics unites individuals under a single identity: citizen. The first demand of authentic democratic life is: get over yourself,” (Ellwanger). Instead of having groups fight to have their needs heard and given, it would become more effective to come together.
Groups are formed because of their identities. Frank Miele, the retired editor of the Daily Inter Lake and now a columnist for RealClearPolitics, said “by encouraging blocs of people to band together, you magnify the power of the individual as a representative of a group, but by segregating people into discrete groups, you isolate them from those who are unlike them,” (Miele). When someone does not fit this identity, they are isolated from the group. This happens on a smaller scale at schools. You see different types of “cliques” that share identities with those inside them. Usually, they deny someone entrance to the group because they do not fit inside of a category that the others do classify themselves in. When someone does not fit inside a group, they feel isolated and their thoughts and needs are not voiced well due to being drowned out by all the groups yelling out their needs. One group’s needs are not usually the same as another’s. Others have a more dire need to be focused on at the moment compared to another’s needs. But the nation would not be able to know or judge which groups’ needs are more dire than others when there is so much “fighting” for the spot. Who will be the one who gets their needs first?
NF – Invisible Lyrics
Having a nation that is united under the same beliefs is important. It brings the nation together as a whole and everyone is working towards the same goal. When everyone is part of the big group, there is no isolating people because once you are an American (born or trying to become an American), you are part of the group. Aram Bakshian Jr. is a former aide to presidents Nixon, Ford, and Reagan and now a writer for The American Conservation. His writings on politics, history, gastronomy, and the arts have been widely published in the United States and abroad. In his article, Identity Politics in Wonderland, he says, “personally, I prefer ‘American’ to any of the above because it is the only identity I know that is large enough and accepting enough to accommodate all of the often contradictory subsets that go into my biological, geographical, political, and spiritual heritage,” (Bakshian). A person’s skin color, hair color, style of clothing, whether or not they believe there is a supreme being in the heavens, if they do not eat meat, who they are attracted or not attracted to, or if they do not have a complete grasp on English does not affect whether or not they are American. The whole foundation of the United States of American was a large sum of people from different backgrounds coming together to form a government that would meet their needs. There a lot of history, good or bad, but we are here now.
America should be a place where everyone feels like they can fit in. It was made to be a place where the people’s needs were met, but now, some needs are being lost to the wind due to the intense yelling of different groups’ needs. Instead of forming groups based on similar differences from others, citizens should work together as one united whole, as one united nation. Put away one’s own advances and think about the whole. Communicate with each other to find what we as a people need and work together to complete that goal, that goal to better ourselves as a nation. I never had a lot of experience with identity politics but I have had a few experiences with groups and isolation. Identity politics should not be the main focus. They should not the way people’s voices are heard. We should come together united under one group: a citizen of the United States of America.