popsicle toes (forbiddenjoys) wrote, @ 2005-05-30 23:20:00

I am drenched with the weight
of my tears.

I have much in life without earning it.

hawaiindann 2005-06-01 02:14 (link)

realizing that is probably the most important step. it really is an eye-opener to see or even live with people that are less fortunate than you. Westerners have such a higher quality of life than any other culture, and its rediculous and sad at the same time. I know i live in a beautiful house, and I have a nice car, and I have lots of clothes, and I have acomputer, and I go to an expensive school. there is no way I could've done this on my own. I realize that I was born with privelages that alot of people were not born it, and although i appreciate it, i realize that it's not fair. I think it is our duty as more priveleged people to lend out a helping hand to those less fortunate. Doesn't have to be money, just time. I mean, really, how much of the things we think we cant live without can we actually live without? quite a few. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	I hear ya forbiddenjoys 2005-06-01 13:42 (link)
	I was speaking of "white" privilege not just of people from outside the Western world. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: I hear ya hawaiindann 2005-06-03 01:51 (link)

ok say maybe the White Anglo Saxon Protestant has some priveleges that the rest of us don't have in this society. I work in a store, and we pay special attention to people who look suspicious. What defines "suspicious?" ... not white... Yeah its not fair. I think I got the tone of the "white" privelage, but I tried to broaden it to "western" privelege. I don't consider myself "white," but I think the US census does. I don't understand the whole race thing anyways. Sociologically speaking, the only races are caucasoid, mongoloid, and negroid. I guess you could say I'm a combination of caucasoid and mongoloid, though probably more caucasoid. I think Westerners do get tons of privelages. So maybe a white westerner has the most privelages? Ok so some people have this extra privelage that others do not. It's not fair, but it's also not your fault. So what do you do then? Use it to do some good. Use it to help those without privelege. Don't abuse your power. Good advice for anyone with a little extra privelege or power in any way, shape, or form. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

I think your last couple of sentences forbiddenjoys 2005-06-03 13:40 (link)

are key. I know that it is not my fault I am white. And I know I am not guilty of what others of my race have done. But I bear great responsibility that oppression doesn't continue. I am guilty of not acknowledging my white privilege...it is easy to be ignorant of one's power and privilege when you are the one with the power. I am starting to understand how racisms thrives even in covert ways not just in individual acts of cruelty. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Excuse me??? karenhj 2005-06-01 18:55 (link)
	What is this nonsense about not having earned it? You are a caring, loving, and generous person and you deserve every good thing that comes your way and lots more that haven't yet made it to you. Never let me hear you say, or see you write, anything so far off the mark again Missy!! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: Excuse me??? forbiddenjoys 2005-06-01 23:59 (link)
	go back and read my response to one of the other people that comment to get the context. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)