I haven't seen the film. But I can read a text and uncover the subtext. The key word here is "universal." In this context, "universal" means "stripped of individual identity." Let's not talk about gender, race, age, etc. because these categories aren't "universal."

When O'Connell "apologizes" that he didn't "explain my point of view well, at all," I think he's dissembling. From what I can tell, he explains his point of view quite well, and it's a point of view I find troubling.