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ThatPoetGuy

(1,747 posts)

35. Sigh....

Reply to Lady Freedom Returns (Original post)

Tue Jan 8, 2013, 10:11 PM

Jan 2013

Please, take some time. Listen and learn about white male privilege. Look it up. It's not what you think it is, and there's no point to get defensive about it.

I'm white and male and piss-poor, and yet I'm privileged.

I have watched a black friend of mine, a lawyer, get treated in ways that simply don't happen to me. I have less than $5000 to my name right now and my friend owns a $2 million house, and yet I have an easier time getting a taxi to pull over than he does. We live in a society where racism affects lots of people in subtle ways.

No one has burned a cross on his lawn, but when he sets off the alarm on leaving the clothing store, they don't just wave him through. They always just wave me through. And that's white privilege.

How is that so difficult to admit? I'm not sitting here in shame and self-hate because I'm white. I have some privileges, and I acknowledge them, which gives me a better ability to understand the world around me. It's that simple.

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I find it interesting how we are getting distracted again. An LFR editorial [View all] Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 OP

Do You Have Any Idea How Old This Swill Is, Ma'am? The Magistrate Jan 2013 #1

Do you know how many have forgotten? n/t Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #2

You May Have Missed the Point, Ma'am The Magistrate Jan 2013 #3

You miss something. Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #4

There Is Relative Privilege At Every Level, Ma'am The Magistrate Jan 2013 #7

I have lived behind a dumpster�. Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #10

You Get An 'A' For Effort, Ma'am The Magistrate Jan 2013 #13

The jest of this is we are all in the same... Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #15

Exactly...those who divide us do it by Color/Race/Gender/Non Gender and they WIN KoKo Jan 2013 #27

The fact is we are letting them. Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #36

Diversity. One doesn't have to pretend that it isn't real in order to not let it divide us. patrice Jan 2013 #12

The Problem With That Line, Sir The Magistrate Jan 2013 #16

You know what, Magistrate? I have been on this board for a long time & so have you. I have even patrice Jan 2013 #18

My Apologies, Ma'am The Magistrate Jan 2013 #20

And, what, pray tell, might have prompted you to not forget that particular thing? nt patrice Jan 2013 #42

So by "White Privilege" being acknowleged in the way you say KoKo Jan 2013 #46

Jay Gould, "I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half". Division along ANY patrice Jan 2013 #5

That is what the upper echelon wants. n/t Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #8

I had a poster I did not expect K&R an OP of mine today Fumesucker Jan 2013 #9

As long as we remember that we are a divers group. Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #14

And isn't it interesting that division along the most widely recognized as corrupt dimension there patrice Jan 2013 #17

Yes, Patrice...other of us have observed it also. n/t KoKo Jan 2013 #28

The problem, especially with this issue, may be a matter of priorities, both sets of patrice Jan 2013 #43

Well el_bryanto Jan 2013 #6

I think the point being made is about the uncomfortable white guys Fumesucker Jan 2013 #11

Quite often, being right is not enough and it even works against you in certain situations. nt patrice Jan 2013 #21

The chance of getting credit for being right... Fumesucker Jan 2013 #40

If "right" is right, "credit" is nice but not necessary. patrice Jan 2013 #41

Well, we certainly wouldn't want to pay any attention to those who are right when others are wrong Fumesucker Jan 2013 #48

Yep. That's the reality. "Might"/numbers makes "right" no matter how wrong it is. patrice Jan 2013 #49

. Rex Jan 2013 #19

You're right, LFR. Waiting For Everyman Jan 2013 #22

K&R woo me with science Jan 2013 #23

Yes - money and class supersede differences. Those are the hard facts. Thanks. freshwest Jan 2013 #24

Unless one happens to be non-white ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #51

Wow! I wish she'd just bought the place. The insanity continues. freshwest Jan 2013 #53

Did you ever read Joe Bageant's articles and books... You make good points and so did he. KoKo Jan 2013 #25

my conscience guides the issues. i am staunchly for gun control and women's reproductive rights. bettyellen Jan 2013 #26

Don't fake them. But remember that the other side will use you if you let them. Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #37

K&R....Good Post and Thread points out many of the problems that divide us. nt KoKo Jan 2013 #29

No. It's the guns. That is the most important issue-to rid the streets of all & be secure and safe graham4anything Jan 2013 #30

We can change the direction the corporations are taking us. Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #33

Is this satire? n/t leftstreet Jan 2013 #34

More in the performance art spectrum I think n/t Fumesucker Jan 2013 #52

No, this is the regular shtick. Turd Way to the core. The Turd Way needs Gun Control for liberal TheKentuckian Jan 2013 #54

OH yes DonCoquixote Jan 2013 #31

This message was self-deleted by its author MightyMopar Jan 2013 #32

Sigh.... ThatPoetGuy Jan 2013 #35

The problem is those that are and will be working for the same wage. Lady Freedom Returns Jan 2013 #38

A couple sentences of yours would make a great signature. Trillo Jan 2013 #39

What? We should drop important issues because we might lose some people lunatica Jan 2013 #44

Something you'll appreciate... pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #45

Well put. 99Forever Jan 2013 #47

Kick woo me with science Jan 2013 #50