“We need a post-identity liberalism, and it should draw from the past successes of pre-identity liberalism. Such a liberalism would concentrate on widening its base by appealing to Americans as Americans and emphasizing the issues that affect a vast majority of them. It would speak to the nation as a nation of citizens who are in this together and must help one another. As for narrower issues that are highly charged symbolically and can drive potential allies away, especially those touching on sexuality and religion, such a liberalism would work quietly, sensitively and with a proper sense of scale. (To paraphrase Bernie Sanders, America is sick and tired of hearing about liberals’ damn bathrooms.)”
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Mark Lilla, The End of Identity Liberalism
Lilla is describing what I call fluidarity, saying that postnormal liberalism must focus on the areas where we find common cause, and defer or decrease discussion on those where we differ. We can’t find solidarity – a single collective mindset – but must approach politics in our fractured times as a connective. We are all living our own lives, with our own goals, but we can still connect and pull generally in the same direction, even if we are all a few degrees off line, leaning toward our own self interest.
from Stowe Boyd http://www.stoweboyd.com/post/153427440552
