So you found a girl
Who thinks really deep thougts
What’s so amazing about really deep thoughts
Boy you best pray that I bleed real soon
How’s that thought for you — From Silent All These Years by Tori Amos

Kathy Kinsley notes an SFGate article discussing “the ethnic vote,” and proceeds to opine:

One of the things I find most fascinating (and saddest) is in the title. Why should there be an ‘ethnic vote’? Why does the author, (an ‘ethnic’ himself, judging by name), assume that all non-whites would vote as a bloc?

America has lots of “ethnics”. Everyone in America is an ‘ethnic’ of some sort. (And I’m very, very tired of code words for ‘non-white.) Whites are just as ‘ethnic’ as anyone else. And whites certainly don’t vote as a bloc.

Doesn’t anyone see how condescending it is to expect any group to vote in a bloc? Expectations like that assume that the group in question has few, or no, individuals who are capable of independent thought. I beg to differ.

I have grown tired of pointing out the plain truth that the root to this kaka is multiculturalism. I may sound like a Rand-y guy (not that there’s anything major wrong with that, but it isn’t me), but when a person’s vote, and the views surrounding that vote, are “expected” from someone on account of his being part of a cultural/ethnic group, it sure sounds like the dark side of multiculturalism to me. “You are not voting for ‘foo’ and so you are betraying your cultural heritage.”

How cheap. I am not tired of explaining why I support the Republican party, or at least the moderates among them, who outnumber the fringe as always. I am tired, however, of having my heritage questioned because of who I support. “You’re Filipino, why do you support the Republicans? Don’t you know they are racists?” To which my answer is only: “my political views are not limited by the color of my skin, the food I eat, or whatever it is that makes me Filipino. Don’t you ever dare discuss politics with me if you’re that cheap.”

I think that people who utterly dislike the humanity of others on account of their politics are missing a great chance to make friends by setting politics (which as a whole is a singular issue in interpersonal dynamics) aside and just having fun together. This kind of single-mindedness itself is a frightening quality in some people, one I cannot stand to be around with.

Having said the equivalent of “can’t we all just get along,” let us take the time to consider something else: there are so many other, better reasons to say, “I don’t like you!” to someone. Not liking someone does not require a lot of thought, shared experience, or analysis. You have the right to dislike others because of what they wear, and it will be an honest, if but shallow, reason. I suppose that people who dislike each other as people on account of their politics think they are not “shallow people,” because politics usually takes some kind of thought to discuss, but I contend that it can even be more shallow than they think.

A person can disconnect from his politics and discuss it with casual disregard. Tell that to the person who you dislike because he likes his pink designer shirt so much. But that’s just me.

(Hat tip: Doc J)