Let us call this figure Identity X.

Virtually everyone knows about Identity X, but for the most part it is a figure of folklore only. No one self-identifies as Identity X. From time to time, people scapegoat others as Identity X. This is dangerous, and often results in death for the accused.

Suddenly—for many reasons that I won't go into here—people begin to claim Identity X for themselves.

First a few, then hundreds, then thousands, then tens and hundreds of thousands, and finally millions of people claim Identity X for themselves.

In the process, they change the very definition of Identity X. They transform Identity X into something that it never has been before: a real-world entity, a claimed identity.

In doing so, they become a people.

This is a true story, and let us pause to reflect on just what an utterly remarkable story it is.

In all of human history, there has never been its like.