RANT

[niriafanorev]

So today and yesterday when I commented on one of Booth's latest notes, I realized how low awareness of social history really is. I mean, is it that difficult to understand the concept of white privilege? Is it that hard to understand that the way things are now is a result of long-term historical processes? It's like assuming that the U.S. is so

Comments

[rawr_its_roonie]

yeah, i didn't even read that note because i figured it would hurt my little brain

Easy

[guerrilla_grrl]

Nobody wants to feel blamed and recognizing white and/or male priveledge forces individuals for feel uncomfortable. It is easier to believe in the "bootstraps" model and feel justified in making racist and sexist remarks. I'm so sick of this easy route people like the person who penned the quotes you referenced take.

Re: Easy

[niriafanorev]

The argument was that recognizing group rights will "inevitably result" in "group privilege" (citing affirmative action policies). I tried to explain that this isn't the case, and that the dominant-subordinate dynamic in place doesn't allow for the sort of bullshit "flipped outcome" he was referring to. Of course, it flew right over the heads of white males who believe they're being oppressed by TEH EVAL SOSHIALIST AFFARMMATIVE ACTION. Even the fact that most of these policies have been dismantled or are in the process of being dismantled (e.g. through Bakke v. University of California) didn't stop him from believing that white people are losing jobs and spots in college left and right, via affirmative action, to TEH POOR UNDERQUALIFIED MINORITES.