Lately i have noticed multiple strange uses of the collective “we” on fedi.
“We” are going to war with Iran, “we” bombed schoolchildren, “we” have failed to build an efficient railroad network.
I'm a bit boggled by how even progressives (even leftists?) identify with their national goverments to the point of incorporating into a single “we”.
“You” did not do any of that. Your government and your ruling class did it in your place, in spite of you.
@magitweeter it's something I've done both automatically and consciously without identifying as remotely responsible or in agreement. To me it's a way of resisting feeling absolved of responsibility to do anything about it (no, it's not my fault but it is my problem) and also resisting crafting an us-vs-them narrative (it is a systemic issue and I am within that system). I do hate the way it feels to say "we" but it sometimes feels irresponsible to substitute "they". Does that make sense?
I've also wondered whether I'm just rationalizing identifying as American in international politics, and if that's actually not helpful. I definitely shifted (further) away from that after moving abroad.
@iris It makes sense, and i believe it's part of the problem. I believe you're being made to feel as if you have a degree of responsibility in something that you're not responsible for at all.
You are being ruled by a small group of people who have taken your collective decisionmaking for themselves. Calling them “they” is not innacurate.
Fabio G.
Iris Young (he/they/she) (PhD)