Anarchy Bang: Introducing Episode 34 – Identity Politics

From Anarchy Bang

A few weeks ago the IAC (http://www.taalahooghan.org/iac/) wrapped up with an all-too-familiar identity politics denouncement of the organizer(s) and some of the participants. There is little to report, as the person who denounced showed as much respect for the environment as one would expect (given that they came from Brooklyn to show the hayseeds from Arizona what for). But a couple things are worth mentioning. One, ten years ago this would have been a show stopper. No one in the room would have been able to stop themselves from responding (aka feeding the fire). Two, many, too many, were surprised and enlightened by the denouncement and wanted to take the accusations seriously. This week on Anarchy Bang we will discuss what it means to take strangers seriously; we’ll discuss what is to be learned (and not) from the recent essay about Identity Politics by Lupus Dragonown Against Identity Politics – Spectres, Joylessness, and the contours of ressentiment (https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/lupus-dragonowl-against-identity-politics), and where the differences lay between Identity and “The Unique One” if any.

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There are 22 Comments

has there been anything published about the Indigenous Anarchist Convergence in way of report-backs etc?

Yeah, uncritically receiving a callout/denunciation from a theatrical stranger at a public event like this in 2019?

I suppose it can be kind of sweet that folks are still that naive? Possibly people who have largely avoided the worst aspects of the last 10 years or so? Lucky them. But come on people …

I love this picture. Don’t try at home.
I’m very interested to hear how the IAC went.
Btw, what instruments will the Anarchy Band be playing?
I’ll read the thingy on time. I think this ep will be cool as well.

'what it means to take strangers' - what exactly does that even mean?

i took it to mean “take strangers at their word”, but it can also mean “take” as in accept, allow, or embrace.

More like get taken! Amirite?

J/k, wasn't there. The fuck do I know?

It wouldn't be anarchist if there wasn't one person loudly denouncing everyone else

Can someone call in about ACAB? I heard some fucker was harassing oogs about their white dreads and that because of that green scare book fair is having a white dress contest open to anyone.

Who is a stranger... everyone, or no one!?

The very notion of stranger is a poor artefact from a clan-ish or racist conservative culture. It's about your fam vs the world outside... such tribal politics that are both anti-individualist and also pave way to other forms of despotism and ID pols, if not fascism.

Is someone a "stranger" just because you don't know them? Well then everyone's more or less a stranger, unless you know them from childhood and did tons of shit with them. But even at that... there may always be a dark corner somewhere in them. So how's the importance of such a notion, then!

We're all humans, part of the same fucked up genetic family. Social constructs like "race" and "family" can blind us away from this... just as in 2019 some people still can be made into Flat-Earthers.

Quit this bullshit already!

(from a stranger nicknamed Fauvenoir, btw)

no u

there's a saying in some cultures that goes: "better a known thing than a yet to be known good thing" or "better the devil you know than the devil you don't". it is conservative, it show suspicion against change and novelty, and looks to stay with the same familiar "lesser evils".

but dealing with strangers is not so much what's at stake here in this topic, but more along the lines of how to deal with hecklers and haters and parachutists of the lefty idpol variety

It seems to me the biome of leftist activist language just inherently invites this stuff. A violent anti-maoist structural configuration would actually be quite unsettling to much of that crowd.

you have a point, but they are parachutists as well. they also do that at events where they are not invited nor expected.

ffs fauve … pretty sure the point here is if you're going to expect everyone to engage with a long, exhaustive process of "calling out the organizers" or whatever the hell, that's a big ask.

I'm always willing to look at grievances being raised but at least part of that equation is - who the fuck are you and do you already have a history of being a melodramatic hustler who pisses in everybody's ear about stupid bullshit drama just to feel important? Or! A stranger, as in, maybe, maybe not?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDW_yAwaHnc

At last, Ariel speaks from the self. Normally, I switch off when Ariel speaks but not this time. The piece by Dragonowl: Against Identity Politics is worth several readings. However, those who feel they have been wronged (historically and presently) want 'justice' and as such call out will continue: them and us; whereas Dragonowl often discussed relationships on an individual basis in the here and now, not based on on what others claim but on how each person 'finds' in each person based on direct face-to-face interaction. It's a shame that more from the piece wasn't discussed as it a well worth reading over and over. I was thinking of Nettle and how they steer clear of group-think, gurus etc. I am similar in my life. Ria brought up group-think: them and us: humans and non-humans: how non-humans have been otherised to the point most humans feel it 'natural' to eat, use and wear non-humans. Ria's point was lost on panel who instead dwelt on the historical point Ria made and not on current human non-human identity politics which was the main point, I feel, Ria was making. To be a racist is touted as disgusting and abhorrent (rightly so) but to be speciesist is perfectly acceptable. Indigenous is interesting and could be viewed as "Hey, 'we' were here first." And the we are called humans and were not here first. Indeed, all humans have colonised land, airspace and water. However, so-called indigenous cultures don't like to be reminded and/challenged on this, preferring instead to be the 'wronged' and thus sneer at The White Man.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Does a hurricane hate women and indigenous folk but love the aminals?

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