Thread by @drlouisehansen

Why identity and privilege matter: Yesterday in Sydney Morning Herald Lakita Bourke (2021) wrote:“Prime Minister Scott Morrison says identity politics and the moral corrosion caused by the misuse of social media are forces seeking to undermine society.” 1/56 #Justice4Australia

“Mr Morrison made the remarks in a speech – in which he repeatedly referred to his Pentecostal faith – called “the responsibility of citizens in building community to achieve national success”. Morrison told an audience “as citizens, we cannot allow what we think we are 2/56

entitled to, to become more important than what we are responsible for.” So what is identity politics, how does it relate to entitlement and responsibility, and why does Morrison think it undermines society? Bisexual Muslim Poet @Omarjsakr (2017) commented for SBS: 3/56

“If I had to name one of the most urgent issues of our time, I would be hard-pressed to look past what is now dismissively termed “identity politics”—that is, the demand by marginalised groups for equality. Notice I didn’t say “climate change”? 4/56

That’s because even this relates to identity politics, since the people who will be disproportionately impacted by its worst affects are third world countries, island nations, and the poor. 6/56

Everything comes back to the framework established by Western imperialism, that original form of politicised identity, where white men endowed their own constructed sense of self with more value than all non-white, non-male, and non-straight bodies. 7/56

Yet, when we think about the term “identity politics” now, what springs to mind are the efforts of culturally and linguistically diverse people to redress structural imbalances designed specifically to disadvantage them.” According to @Omarjsakr (2017): 8/56

“Identity affects everything, from the area you live to your job to how much you get paid. From whether you get the house you applied for to how you’re treated by authority figures and government services, so on. Although it can be mitigated, via class, it can never be 9/56

completely overcome, as we’ve seen through the double standards applied to famous people of colour, be they athletes like Adam Goodes or politicians like Barack Obama. Even within classes, a prejudicial hierarchy exists. This is the central thesis of identity politics— 10/56

it has always been about structural barriers and biases privileging white people, as opposed to an individualistic focus on race or sexuality.” Yesterday Bourke (2021) wrote that Morrison stated: “I would argue that we must protect against the forces that would 11/56

undermine community – and I don’t just mean the social and moral corrosion caused by the misuse of social media and the abuse that occurs there. It also includes the growing tendency to commodify human beings through identity politics. 12/56

You are more than the things others try to identify you by in this age of identity politics. You are more than your gender, your sexuality, your race, your ethnicity, your religion, your language group, your age.” Bourke (2021): “Mr Morrison said reducing ourselves to 13/56

attributes, or dividing along these lines, made us lose sight of “who we are as individuals”. However, @Omarjsakr (2017) mentions the problem with dismissing identity politics: “Whenever people make such claims, I think of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is often 14/56

targeted as an example of “divisive” identity politics. What critics gloss over is that organisation’s extensive manifesto calling for, among other things, judicial and police reforms, tax and economic reforms, education reform, and universal healthcare; with specific 15/56

outcomes listed within each section. It’s not that Black Lives Matter cares about nothing other than race, so much as the incredibly racist commentary around it has reduced its complex platform to identity alone.” According to Bourke (2021) Morrison said: “When they 16/56

define each other by the boxes we tick or don’t tick – rather than our qualities, skills and character – we fail to see or value other people as individuals.” Morrison said the Jewish community understood better than other groups what happens when people are 17/56

“defined solely by the group they belong to, or an attribute they have, or an identity they possess”.” How would First Nations people feel, or people who fled danger to seek asylum in Australia, about this claim that the Jewish community know better? 18/56

@Omarjsakr (2017) wrote: “To say people of colour rallying around their ethnic identity gives ammunition to white supremacists is to fundamentally misunderstand both history and present: racists are and have been firing at non-Anglo bodies since beginnings of colonialism. 19/56

The issue with the universalism is that we don’t all live in the same world, even when we share the same country, geographic space, or class. People who have trouble reconciling how ideals can work in theory but fail in practice, don’t seem to recognise this is because 20/56

as soon as ideas are translated into reality, they are warped by the unequal structures of power at play. Take, for example, those who say, “We are all Australian and that’s enough.” It’s a beautiful ideal, but one we’ve proven we’re not ready for. 21/56

“Australian”, by itself, indicates an equality that simply doesn’t exist. Australians are not all treated the same by our government, and what’s more, it implies a false default to which all else is foreign and lesser. But there is no such thing as an Australian. 22/56

There are Indigenous-Australians. Anglo-Australians. Arab-Australians. German-Australians. Samoan-Australians. Somali-Australians. And so on. With the exception of First Nations people – who, in my opinion, alone can choose whether to hyphenate this 23/56

identity or not – no one here has anymore of a right to the space we share, the nation we live in.” @Omarjsakr (2017) also wrote: “too many people assume difference means division. But when my Samoan friend says to me “I’m Samoan”, I don’t respond, “Stop being divisive!”, 24/56

I say, “And I love you”.” So why is Morrison against identity politics and does he use identity in politics? Bourke (2017) stated: “Mr Morrison referred to a speech he gave to his own church community last week in which he said social media could be used as a “weapon” by 25/56

“the evil one”. Referencing the writing of the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the Prime Minister cited the “covenant of community” where citizens “step up and play a role” but warned this concept was at risk. “That is the moral responsibility and covenant of 26/56

citizenship – not to think we can leave it to someone else,” he said. “There is a warning though. Where we once understood our rights in terms of our protections from the state, now it seems these rights are defined by what we expect from the state. 27/56

As citizens, we cannot allow what we think we are entitled to, to become more important than what we are responsible for,” he said.” Fair enough when individuals have privilege; they can afford to be responsible. However, is not fair if Morrison expects all individuals to 28/56

be more responsible when the system they depend on for survival denies them their basic human rights. It is the Australian Government’s responsibility to honour human rights. This depends on leadership that respects the dignity of all. Bourke (2017) notes: “Mr Morrison said 29/56

“human dignity” was “foundational to our freedom” and an important restraint on government in a liberal democracy, and that seeing a person’s inherent dignity was the “foundation of all morality”. He said: “it makes us more capable of love and compassion; 30/56

selflessness and forgiveness. Because if you see dignity and worth of another person, you’re less likely to disrespect them, insult or show contempt or hatred for them, or seek to cancel them, as is becoming fashion of some. Morality is the foundation of true community.”” 31/56

Human dignity? Morality? More capable of love, compassion, selflessness and forgiveness? Respect? This sounds like a beautiful Australia. So how come I don’t feel that Australian politics has that? I believe I will when Australia has a Prime Minister 32/56

educated enough to see privilege for what it is and brave enough to address it; who demonstrates leadership beyond words with “actions” that recognise the inherent dignity in all human beings; when all Australians’ human rights are met; 33/56

When all Australians can embrace the idea of a “fair go” that is just a dangerous MYTH; when the leader’s priority is to bring Stranded Aussies home, instead of threatening them with a jail sentence, now trapped in a foreign country with the real threat of death; 34/56

when our brothers and sisters can flee from danger to us knowing they can trust us and we won’t lock them up unlawfully and indefinitely in the cruelest way; when our leaders can share the truth for justice and not be gagged in Parliament when they do; when they can 35/56

collaboration to achieve best outcomes for all; when they can have an argument with a powerhouse like China and are mature to resolve it diplomatically; when the person with the most power in Australia, who sets the standards for men, and the expectations of women, can
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equally prioritise women’s and men’s business; if they go to the footy to watch their mates they also stands with 100,000 women upset about injustice; when the public can share interpretations of truth, without receiving a notice they are being sued for defamation; when 37/56

whistle blowers can disclose information that’s in the best interest of the public and not have to face any prosecution. These dreams are neither wild nor are they an idealistic fantasy. Many leaders do this; men and women. It requires human dignity, 38/56

morality, love, compassion, selflessness and respect. However, talk is cheap. We must practice what we preach. Instead, it has become the responsibility of the human being to beg and plead for their basic needs; screaming at deaf ears, left with untold 39/56

suffering, trauma and suicides. They should not have to this. This is the responsibility and core business of leadership. Working towards breaking the cycle: the negative operation of power. Every parent, or teacher, has the responsibility to nurture a child, because they 40/56

presumably have more knowledge and power. What makes the Australian Government different especially since it holds the “most power”? We cannot expect children to become prosocial adults when their parents are denied the basics: truth, freedom, safety, health and wellbeing. 41/56

What type of Australia does Scott Morrison see? Or more to the point where has he been? The famous words are: “but you’re not an Island?”. So surely he can see the Australia we see? A fractured nation at an enormous expense: personally, financially and globally. 42/56

Scott Morrison is right about one thing: It is limited identities of race, religion, and nationality which breed conflict and violence. Then how can he have a gripe about identity and then claim he was sent by God? Or telling only his follows that God is on their side? 43/56

Does this mean the “evil one” is one of us on the outside? I’m not saying he means that. I’m trying to understand where Australia’s leader is at. You see I am very clear on what makes my favourite leader tick. That is why he is so successful and interviewed worldwide on, 44/56

on leadership, among many others areas. Sadhguru summaries identity beautifully: “The joy of being one with everything will never be known to a person who is clinging to something or the other. If you are a sensible human being, you will naturally be loving and inclusive. 45/56

The fight against corruption has to start within you, as integrity is an inner quality. Integrity is not a bunch of values or ethics. It is the coherence between how you are, how you think, and how you act. The most important thing today is to make humans rise to a sense 46/56

of inclusiveness beyond gender, race, religion, and nationhood. If humans become conscious, the need for domination and conflict will dissolve. We have to become sensitive to life – not to our thoughts, emotions, egos, ideologies, or belief systems. 47/56

Because life is the highest value. Everyone deserves a pleasant experience of life.” Essentially, Sadhguru is saying what Morrison said. However, there is a huge difference between them. Sadhguru sees clearly the impact of privilege and brave enough to call it out. 48/56

Sadhguru says: “When there is so much wealth in the world, poverty is a crime against humanity. Society should not shape individual human consciousness. Human consciousness should shape society. It is the ability to bring out the best in others that makes you a leader. 49/56

The best gift you can give anyone is to offer them the tools to engineer themselves into joyful human beings. Life is not about peace, but if you do not know peace you will never know life.” Sadhguru understands human rights are a prerequisite to peace and that joyfulness 50/56

is simply peace dancing. Perhaps the Prime Minister of Australia could adopt this approach and return human rights to those who are denied them. Perhaps he could take a moment to reflect on privilege and it’s devastating impacts on marginalised groups; the connection 51/56

to the identity politics he warns us against. While we are at it could we also acknowledge that one man’s privilege does not only cost another’s life, we have also nearly destroyed this beautiful planet. Such insights only require awareness. The beauty of awareness 52/56

is that it leads to compassion. The beauty of compassion is that it leads to purposeful action. For example, let’s start by immediately implementing all recommendations from the 2021 Human Rights Watch World Report? It includes humans, the environment and climate change. 53/56

To conclude @Omarjsakr wrote: “If we can get to a point where the sound of our name, or the colour of our skin, or who we love, or what our gender happens to be, doesn’t privilege or disadvantage our bodies, then we can revisit the beautiful ideal of universalism. 54/56

Until then, maybe we can try loving our differences and embracing the hyphen in our identities, as we work toward equalling the imbalances in our society and making it a home for all of us.” 55/56

Sources: “PM warns identity politics, abuse of social media are undermining society”, By Latika Bourke (2021). The Sydney Herald / “Comment: Why identity politics is the most urgent issue of our time: Identity politics is coming under fire” By @OmarSakr (2017). SBS. 56/56

*Apologies for the typos as usual. ❤️

Why Identity and Privilege Matter (Facebook Version): ❤️ #Justice4Australia facebook.com/529148833/post…