You will be assimilated

I read an article the other day in which a man, who lived for a time as transgendered but changed his mind, criticizes the inflexibility of progressives. But in the end, I suspect his final accusation extends to a majority on both sides of the aisle:

My decision may not be consistent with a liberal activist agenda, but it’s consistent with me. And that’s why I now find myself cast as the opposition. But I’m not bothered in the slightest. I’m quite used to being the opposition. That’s because, regardless of how I dress and what name I use, I am still one of the most oppressed minorities living in the West today.

I am an individual.

As American–if not all of Western–culture becomes increasingly factionalized, one of the most commonly deployed tools is the verbal whipping of anyone who deviates from the party line and thinks for themselves. Believe it or not, it’s possible to be both for immigration and for tighter controls, for a strong national defense and diplomacy, for helping the poor and limited government. But we don’t like that ambiguity of “and”. We like “either”/”or”, black or white, all or nothing.

We don’t like individuals. They’re so hard to pigeon-hole and, therefore, control.

I think Will Franken in the article linked above goes easier on conservatives than they necessarily deserve. There does indeed seem at times there can be more actual, real acceptance of individuals on the right than on the left, but as anyone who has been classified a RINO can tell you, the Big Tent has some serious gaps, and the Republican party has its own “identity politics” issues. I’ve sat in a Republican caucus and felt rather uncomfortable being there.

America is dividing, and both sides are eager to claim you, and to shame you into staying put. The trouble is, there is no moderate, individualist rally-point. It’s practically an oxymoron to establish a Faction of Individualists. It used to be okay to sit back and let the two sides fight, but they’re growing increasingly impatient. They want you on their side, no matter how uncomfortable you may be there. Don’t worry. They’ll beat the “impurities” out of you.

They’ll make you a minority of one until there are none.