(no subject)
Dear tutsiman:
I saw you left one of the stupidest comments on this week's secret post. Congratulations; this is indeed a very difficult feat. And here's my analysis of why your comment was mind-numbingly stupid.
You said:
Exactly. Reading about a place or visiting it is one thing; actually living there is another.
Alya, I've been to Cairo a couple of times and had read about it. Yet, this does not make me an expert into the culture and the society of said city. I've never experienced what Egyptians go through, and I can't claim that I do.
Fighting racism is always a good thing, no questions about that. Having said that, I am hoping that you are paying attention to and fighting against racism in your own country. It's no secret that the blacks in the south of Egypt face poverty and racism, and the Sudanese also have much to say about the racism they have to face in Egypt (in Cairo in particular).
I am amazed by your ability to tell me I shouldn't talk about white privilege in the US, then turn around and talk to me about racism in Egypt. I have absolutely no problem at all with discussing racism in Egypt, even with someone who *GASP* doesn't live here. You know why? Because I, unlike Tinkerbell and you, am aware people can read testimonies by other people; I know how to educate myself and expect the same of others. Oh, and I am not invested in suppressing discussions about racism and privilege.
Speaking of that, 'you haven't lived here so you don't know about privilege here' is a really stupid argument that is aimed towards suppressing discussions of that type. It's a way of implying that outside observers should not be able to make judgements, which is really idiotic, because when you are acquainted with our dear friend logic, you know that outside observers are invaluable to you, because their judgement is more likely to be objective than that of anyone involved.
Most online writings on the subject of race today (and there are a LOT of those) center around the US. There is nothing difficult about reading testimonies by people who live there, and learning about their experiences; this is how I learn. I can read, believe it or not.
And yes, I am paying attention to racism in Egypt. Thank you for your concern.
I saw you left one of the stupidest comments on this week's secret post. Congratulations; this is indeed a very difficult feat. And here's my analysis of why your comment was mind-numbingly stupid.
You said:
Exactly. Reading about a place or visiting it is one thing; actually living there is another.
Alya, I've been to Cairo a couple of times and had read about it. Yet, this does not make me an expert into the culture and the society of said city. I've never experienced what Egyptians go through, and I can't claim that I do.
Fighting racism is always a good thing, no questions about that. Having said that, I am hoping that you are paying attention to and fighting against racism in your own country. It's no secret that the blacks in the south of Egypt face poverty and racism, and the Sudanese also have much to say about the racism they have to face in Egypt (in Cairo in particular).
I am amazed by your ability to tell me I shouldn't talk about white privilege in the US, then turn around and talk to me about racism in Egypt. I have absolutely no problem at all with discussing racism in Egypt, even with someone who *GASP* doesn't live here. You know why? Because I, unlike Tinkerbell and you, am aware people can read testimonies by other people; I know how to educate myself and expect the same of others. Oh, and I am not invested in suppressing discussions about racism and privilege.
Speaking of that, 'you haven't lived here so you don't know about privilege here' is a really stupid argument that is aimed towards suppressing discussions of that type. It's a way of implying that outside observers should not be able to make judgements, which is really idiotic, because when you are acquainted with our dear friend logic, you know that outside observers are invaluable to you, because their judgement is more likely to be objective than that of anyone involved.
Most online writings on the subject of race today (and there are a LOT of those) center around the US. There is nothing difficult about reading testimonies by people who live there, and learning about their experiences; this is how I learn. I can read, believe it or not.
And yes, I am paying attention to racism in Egypt. Thank you for your concern.