A call for "Urban Identity Politics"

[scottxyz]

"...We need a new identity politics, an urban identity politics, one that argues for the cities, uses a rhetoric of urban values, and creates a tribal identity for liberals that's as powerful and attractive as the tribal identity Republicans have created....

We can focus on our issues, our urban issues, and promote our shared urban values. We can create a new identity politics, one that transcends class, race, sexual orientation, and religion, one that unites people living in cities with each other and with other urbanites in other cities."

http://www.urbanarchipelago.com/

[American Tragedy]

1. If indeed that is politically viable, I would love it

I am getting sick of being told by the media and by politicians that urban values and interests are something of which to be ashamed.

[Maple]

2. Yes, we seem to be

moving to the idea of city-states, and away from our current political geography.

[pnutchuck]

3. Just start doing ANYTHING Angela Davis suggests

She is a great opposition to the establishment and still working hard for political prisoners. She's even an abolishnist of prisons. A very articulate and powerful speaker. I say we all get behind her and then we can make real urban, sexual, and political change!

"Jails and prisons are designed to break human beings, to convert the population into specimens in a zoo - obedient to our keepers, but dangerous to each other."
Angela Davis

[silverweb]

4. A fabulous article!

And plan I can get behind 100%!

[pmbryant]

5. Read this last week. Was extremely unimpressed. Extremely.

This is exactly what the GOP would like us to do. It cements the current political divide in place. A divide on which Democrats are on the losing end.

Republicans will continue to win close elections year after year if we play along with this crap.

Citizens of the Urban Archipelago reject heartland "values" like xenophobia, sexism, racism, and homophobia, as well as the more intolerant strains of Christianity that have taken root in this country. And we are the real Americans. They--rural, red-state voters, the denizens of the exurbs--are not real Americans. They are rubes, fools, and hate-mongers.

This reads like a Republican satire of us. Please, do not play along!

Try this instead: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1345639&mesg_id=1345639

--Peter

[silverweb]

6. I don't know.

Conciliation and reaching out to the "reds" has not worked in the least. They want everything their way all the time -- and they view us as "weak" for being willing to work towards compromise.

With this bunch, it's true that bipartisanship is equivalent to date rape.

No, thanks. Not anymore.

[pmbryant]

7. I'm not pushing for "bipartisanship"

I'm not proposing reaching out to "reds"; rather, avoiding alienating middle-of-the-road voters.

It's about winning more voters over to our side, so we can start to win elections rather than lose close ones.

--Peter

[silverweb]

8. Middle of the road?

Do you actually mean to suggest that such a creature still exists? Like the much vaunted "undecided voter?"

:crazy:

Actually... just kidding. I do know what you're saying. :D

Our opponents don't seem to be the least bit worried about alienating or offending anyone and they're doing just fine. I think we need to stand firmly for our ideals, not cave to avoid "alienating" people who can't make their minds up about anything anyway.

[pmbryant]

9. There's a reason for our opponent's lack of worry

They have split the country and come away with the larger half. They can alienate our half all they want and still win election after election by 51-49 or 52-48 margins.

Result: They get all the power. We get nothing. America gets screwed.

We can stand firmly for our ideals without mocking those who are too busy making a living to follow politics every day. We can stand firmly for our ideals without insulting hard-working people who mean well but have temporarily fallen for the GOP/corporate media propaganda.

--Peter

[silverweb]

10. Yes, they split the country.

And they used blatant lies and fearmongering to do it. I agree with you about not insulting hard-working people who just don't have time to be political junkies like us. However, I also think we need to impress on them in a very direct way that they've been lied to, used, and manipulated.

They have to see the cost of doing nothing and letting them experience that cost first-hand is probably the very best way to get their attention. I do believe they call it "tough love" -- or is that term out of vogue now?

We can extend a hand, but they have to be willing to take a stand in their own behalf.