I have a good friend who is a hard-core conservative. We often discuss politics and disagree to a huge extent, but we have managed to keep separate out politics and our friendship, though this is sometimes more difficult then at other times.
The other day identity politics came up, in the guise of prejudice/sexism/etc. He knows that I, as a gay, Jewish man who is attracted/usually only dates Asian men, and he asked me if I have ever experienced direct attacks on me based on who I am.
Examples of such attacks did not take long to recall.
From being attacked for being gay (Being told that all gays should be taken to a deserted island and shot)….to being Jewish (When in a conversation someone mentioned that they were trying to “Jew” someone down”) to being a white man primarily attracted to Asian men (From comments about how all Asian men look the same….I must be attracted to Asian men since I have not found the “real” white man who would teach me...to the whole size issue) I have experienced many direct examples of hate towards me based on who I am.
In fact I think this is more common for all my minority friends. I have heard from my female friends comments and actions directed towards them….my Islamic friends when comments have been directed to them, etc. I do not know how in total honesty people would doubt such things occur.
Now I know people might say that if they do not belong to a minority group they would not be paying attention, perhaps, to such attacks when they occur. Or, more likely, that they are not being honest in their honesty...i.e. they have seen such attacks, but due to wanting to some sort of cognitive dissonance they deny such events even when they occur in front of their faces.
So I guess my question already is answered….and should be phrased differently. In this day an age, in modern America, should be phrased to the opposite….have you, being a member of a minority group(s) *not* been experienced to such attacks.