Babylon Bee Breaks From Satire, For Serious Discussion of Identity Politics

  Babylon Bee has blazed new trails in the mode of satire for discrediting nonsense. Nearly 30 years ago, Rush Limbaugh used similar satire on his legendary radio show. He still calls it "utilizing the ridiculous to illustrate the absurd." Read more, here.
  But today Babylon Bee is operating a web media outlet to use humor to discredit so many extreme voices. Even voices on the right. Even the religious right. Make no mistake, the Babylon Bee is operated by devout Christians. But they often callout a lot of nonsense which is promoted in the name of religion.
  We recently consulted them about Identity politics. They published the following Q & A. It's a serious matter for them. But they still found a way to weave humor into their instructive answers. Here is that set of questions, and their answers.
​What does “identity politics” mean?

• “Identity politics” is the term given to a popular practice in which politicians divide people into group identities and inform them that they’re victims of a shadowy, systemic, oppressive power structure, and anyone who disagrees with them on any social issue is not an individual with valid ideas worth considering but is bigoted, full of hate, and wants them and everyone in their group to die a terrible death.

Readers of SoonerPolitics.org are often treated to light-hearted weekend posts from The Babylon Bee.

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Why do politicians encourage identity politics?

• To position themselves at the top of the actual societal power structure.

What are some examples of identity politics?

• The idea that being against abortion means you’re “anti-women,” for example. Or that being against the Obergefell decision makes one “homophobic.” Or that having a different view on immigration makes one “racist.” Or that thinking there are inherent differences between males and females makes one “sexist.”

You didn’t mention transgender people in your examples. Are you transphobic?

• See, you’ve got it.

Why would people want to label those who disagree with them horrible things in order to not have to listen to what they say?

• Have you ever tried to have a discussion with someone you don’t agree with? It’s very triggering.

This seems to be at odds with the important virtues of free speech, due process, and individual rights.

• Oh, but it feels so good.

Has there been much pushback against the practice of identity politics?

• Yes. One example is sitting in the Oval Office.

Have we seen the political ideal that “the group” is more important than “the individual” implemented on a large scale before?

• There are a few examples from the 20th century that you learned about in world history class.

I don’t agree with The Babylon Bee‘s analysis of identity politics.

• Then you are brimming with deep-seated hatred for Christianity and your opinion doesn’t matter. Good day!