Good morning. It’s Wednesday, and the morning is off and running. Let’s start the day off with some music. It seems like a good morning for some Counting Crows

Light Politics

The world of identity politics – where the lines between progress and parody can get delightfully blurred. Let’s dive into the quagmire with a dash of humor, shall we?

One of the most amusing (and problematic) aspects of identity politics is its tendency to create an endless array of identities, each demanding its own special brand of recognition and respect. It’s like a never-ending game of “Identity Bingo,” where everyone’s a winner, but nobody’s quite sure what they’re winning at. This proliferation of identities can lead to a sort of “identity fatigue,” where even the most well-intentioned individuals start to feel like they’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of self-definition and redefinition.

But the real kicker is when identity politics starts to take itself too seriously. It’s like the old joke about the kindergartener who identifies as a lion – it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt (or in this case, until someone gets told to “just get over it”). The problem is that when we start to take these identities too seriously, we can lose sight of the bigger picture. We start to focus on the superficial differences between groups, rather than the deeper structural issues that affect us all.

And then there’s the issue of “elite capture,” where radical movements get co-opted by the powerful and the privileged. It’s like the old saying goes: “the revolution will be televised, but only if it’s sponsored by a major corporation”. This can lead to a sort of “identity politics lite,” where the focus is on superficial symbols of diversity and inclusion, rather than actual systemic change.

But perhaps the biggest problem with identity politics is its tendency to abandon universalism in favor of particularism. When we start to focus too much on our individual identities, we can lose sight of the common humanity that binds us all together. And that’s when things start to get really problematic.

So, what’s the solution? Well, maybe it’s time to take a step back and remember that identity politics is just a tool, not an end in itself. Maybe it’s time to focus on the bigger picture, and to remember that we’re all in this together. And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to bring back a little bit of humor and humility to the conversation. After all, as the great philosopher Spivak once said, “identity is as boring a subject as one can imagine”. So, let’s try to keep things in perspective, shall we?

I get tired of the vitriol. We are all in this together. We are all Americans.

Baseball

My Chicago Cubs didn’t make the postseason or muster up much of a charge. This team is largely going to look quite a bit different next year, and Jed Hoyer sat there once again saying the goal is for this team to be consistently in the postseason. A lot of rumors that the Cubs will go after Mets power hitter Pete Alonso this offseason.

He’s got a good attitude and might be a good fit.

On the same baseball note, I’ve been forced to root for a team this playoff season so it might as well be the underdog Padres.

I’ve been impressed with how well Tatis Jr. has been playing. Ken Rosenthal—I’m not sure who exactly he works for, MLB, Fox, or The Athletic—wrote a rather silly, disingenuous piece about the Padres. The main parts that stirred up Padres fans. Link to the full here.

smiling dancing peacock

Does this look like a smiling dancing peacock to you?

Lastly…..

Kamala Harris has been doing a lot of long-form interviews, from ‘Call her Daddy’ to ‘Sixty Minutes’. Yesterday, she did a long-form interview with Howard Stern. There has been a call for her to get more out there. You’re running for President of the United States. What does it say that you can’t handle an interview? Well, the campaign is changing that narrative.

Have a good Wednesday, everyone! I’m off to photograph some volleyball tonight.

On a comical note. If you heard….

Yes they can control the weather.

It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.

— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) October 4, 2024

Yes. Here is President Biden working the WeatherMaster 3000.