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It's been a while since I was on campus, but when I was, the "identity politics" groups were fairly inoccuous - they were a place for people who were "different" in some way to be with other people like them, and to raise awareness of their culture and/or cause. They weren't really trying to change anybody's opinions, or to stake out "victim" status, just make themselves known. I learned a lot about other people's cultures and opinions, and I didn't feel shamed or vilified in any way. Maybe things are different now, or maybe there are different issues on different campuses, but I wonder what people are reacting to that is causing such a huge backlash against minorities. How are they trying to change you?
I think most people don't realize how difficult it can be to be different in this society. You walk a fine line between assimilation and acceptance - how do you keep your identity and your culture and the things you value, without being marginalized or discriminated against, and blend them into the things you value about American culture? Most people don't want anything more than tolerance and acceptance from the mainstream, to be who they are an have it be okay, and I don't think that's so much to ask, especially in a country that has such little awareness of or appreciation for other cultures as it is.
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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."
- Anatole France
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