Post Liberalism is actually a thing now. On the surface (to those who identify as conservative) it may seem like a welcomed change. But upon peeling the surface layer we see that it’s about dismantling democratic institutions for the sake of “family values.”
Like so many things in the social political sphere the problem with making broad proclamations comes down to who we appoint as the arbiters of what is freedom, what is democratic, and what are family values.
To Glennon Doyle, the bestselling author and podcaster, family values look like divorcing her husband, marrying a woman, and raising her three children together with her new wife and former husband so that she can be her authentic self. Her children now have three active parents working in cooperation.
To the Christian right family values look like sidelining LGBTQ people and removing any special privileges they may receive for such things as living and loving together.
To the extreme right it looks like demonizing critical race theory as a weaponization of education.
And there are those on the extreme left who heap all manner of hatred on the right. They perceive those on the right as not just people they disagree with, but people who are wrong, stupid, and flawed.
I have another theory.
People who are on the extreme edges of society, who judge those on the opposite end as morally flawed are not wrong or stupid — they are afraid.
They are afraid of changes they do not understand. They are afraid of discovering that their beliefs may be wrong. And if they discover that their beliefs are wrong their very identity will crumble, and so it is better to dig their heels in deeper and become even more extreme.
They are afraid of their daughters and sons coming to them one day with an admission of wanting to be with someone of the same sex, or worse, that they may wish to change their gender. They are afraid of people of color taking over. They are afraid of women being bold, taking charge, and speaking their truth.
On the left they are afraid of losing control to an autocratic authority. They are afraid of their children being told that they must accept Jesus into their hearts or otherwise burn in hell for an eternity. They are afraid of not being accepted for being different. And they are afraid they won’t be allowed to be themselves.
As noted, Maria and I live in a remote unincorporated high-desert region of western New Mexico. Our nearest neighbor is much further than a stone’s throw. But there is an actual restaurant a mere 20 miles away. It seems like it would fail for being in such a remote location, but it thrives. Of course the food is amazing and the service is awesome, but there is something more — something special.
A clue might be the sign hanging high up as you enter. A mere decorative representation of the following words,
“In this house we believe…
No human is illegal
Love is love
Science is real
Women’s rights are human rights
Black lives matter
Water is life
And kindness is everything”
From a brand perspective it’s brilliant, because they are taking a bold step to proclaim what they believe. They turn no one away. They are accommodating and accepting. Walking through the threshold feels like walking into a happy place. A place without judgement. There is no hatred of the radical right, the Post Liberalists, the Christian right, the LGBTQ haters. Here there is only acceptance.
From a human perspective it provides an opportunity for those who left city life to be themselves and find a safe haven, a social gathering place, a place for unity.
There is commonality over the love of good food and a comfortable environment. Dining together is universal. We’ve been doing it for literally millions of years. An animal is taken, roots are found, berries collected, and it is brought back to a place in which we congregate together and share the bounty.
In this space we are one people, one family. Ideology is not so important when we share a pizza or dive into a dish of mac and cheese.
What is critical race theory anyway and why are we arguing over it?
Maybe take a trip to some place where people are different and sample the local food. Guess what, you’ll find commonality. Those Godless lesbian people you’re sharing food with . . . you might just find they feel like you about family values. And those evil GOPers, you might find that they share the same fears as you. And those MAGA hat wearing Trumpsters, you might find they have a heart buried somewhere beneath their fear.
Those sanctimonious liberals . . . go share a meal with them and find out how fun they can be when they’re not talking politics. Should prime rib be served rare or medium rare? Are hot dogs better when burned on a grill? Does cilantro taste like soap to you? And what about pozole, man can those Mexicans make a tasty soup to sooth the soul. Beef Wellington? Never had it, but it sounds good.
What about raw vegan pizza? Is there such a thing? Does it actually taste good?
Food is our common humanity. We all need it. We all love it. We all obsess over what to eat, how to prepare it, how to serve it. And by the way, what the heck is a chartreuse board? Is that something you actually eat?
Have we forgotten about gayness yet?
No, not yet?
Okay, what about sweet potato casserole? Do you prefer it with marshmallows or without? Should we cook a turkey or a ham on Christmas day? What’s the best snack food to eat when watching a Star Wars series?
Ever eaten Ethiopian food? Right, those dark skinny people from far away. Their food is amazing. They don’t eat with utensils, they use a thin fermented bread to pick up the food, and everyone eats from the same large platter, which requires cooperation and generosity.
Iranian food? I can’t get enough of it. They have this seminal dish called ghormeh sabzi, numerous finely cut greens, slow cooked in a meat broth, served over rice. The flavor is astounding.
Ever find yourself in East Los Angeles, look for a ratty looking food truck parked at the curb with Mexican grandmothers making tortillas by hand and delivering the most simplistic and flavor-filled tacos you’ll ever eat.
Have we forgotten about gun control yet? Is your mouth watering? Are you thinking about how you’d like to visit a far-off place, or maybe a place on the other side of town where people walk with a different flare in their stride and just have some food?
Through commonality we forget our fears. We forget to fear one another and just talk and laugh while shoveling another bite of pie ala mode. How can I hate someone who shares my love of breakfast?
Oh, I almost forgot. We all need food to survive. So maybe, that’s the core of it: How do we survive? How about we talk about it over some beans and cornbread?
If you’ve enjoyed this post please like, share, and subscribe. The way the DEEPER side of things reaches a wider audience is through word of mouth. Thank you for your support.