Individualism and X-Men: The Last Stand

I’d like to draw your attention to this blog post: X-Men 3: Libertarian Masterpiece.

An excerpt:

The major development in the 3rd film is the creation of a “cure” for mutation. Any mutant exposed to it will lose his or her special powers and become a regular human. Though it is offered on a volunteer basis, the mutants are divided between those who would do anything for the chance at a “normal” life and those who would do anything to protect the mutant “identity.” It is no small irony that all of this takes place in San Francisco, of all places.

Things escalate and battle lines are drawn. What had been a completely voluntary cure becomes less so. At this point, we recognize the twin bigotries of social conservatism and identity politics. On the right, we have the populist masses and the government who are driven by fear of that which is different. On the left, we have members of minority groups who place their group identity above all else, and who are driven by fear of the loss of that identity. Any mutant desiring the cure is a traitor. Any mutant deviating from the group’s stance is a threat. Therefore the cure, and its supporters, must be eliminated.

The X-Men offer a third way, the only way not driven by bigotry: Individual choice, not decisions forcibly made by society or an identity group. One of the X-Men decides that she would rather be normal than a mutant. Instead of denying that choice or deeming her a traitor, she is told to think about what is best, personally, for herself. Individuals who mean no harm to anyone deserve the right to control their lives. This is the heart of libertarianism.

I don’t think I could have said it better.

The X-Men comics and movies have always been about the problem of bigotry - or, more precisely, about a group of individuals who stand between the bigoted majority, and those who believe their “minority” makes them superior.

We could replace “mutants” with “black people” or “homosexuals”, and it would be the same.

Anyone with half a mind, of course, realizes that the bigots are wrong in all those cases. But what is not immediately obvious to many is that many among the minority groups are also wrong… and exactly for the same reason.

Collectivism.

A big part of collectivism is the idea that people are defined by the “groups” they belong to - whether it’s nationality, skin color, sexuality, gender, etc..

Look at the “X-Men” example, and see if that’s not the case on both sides.

The anti-mutant bigots, obviously, are like that. Instead of seeing mutants as individuals, they see them all as the same - a threat to “normal” humans. Their different DNA makes them “evil”, and a menace. No choices are involved. The only good mutant is a dead mutant. The fact that they are mutants defines them.

Now, what about the “mutant pride” groups, like Magneto and his bunch? To them, the “normal” homo sapiens majority hates them - therefore, they must fight back. Being a mutant is a question of pride, it’s what makes them superior. And any mutant who isn’t willing to fight - and even give his life - for the group is a traitor. A traitor to his own kind. The fact that they are mutants defines them.

See how they are simply two sides of the same coin - of the same problem? While the groups are apparently opposed, and certainly hate and fight each other, they actually agree that being a mutant or not is the most important thing about someone, that one should be either condemned or hailed becuase of it.

No room for individual choices. No individualism at all.

Sure, “X-Men” is fiction. But I’m sure you can see the parallels with the real world. And I hope you’ll agree with me that things would be a lot better if more people realized that the only thing that defines us is our choices - not our genes, skin color, nationality, mutant powers, whatever.

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