It's such a common thing. The real issue with it as far as I'm concerned is people who state these ignorant misconceptions with utter certainty, things that are so transparently refutable with a *minimum* of...Google research or whatever.
There have been times that I've said something stupid or ignorant or insensitive because I forgot to check my privilege at the door. But when that happens and someone who is affected by what you say calls you on your assumptions, the correct answer is, "You're right, I'm sorry," not "Shut up, you're too stupid to know you're oppressed."
I'm really glad that you posted this, because reading it helped educate me to recognize those issues as what they are (racism, religious hatred, misogyny) rather than dismiss them as part of a homogenous fundy fringe ideology (oh look, right-wingers being cocksocks! ban_set!). To recognize the underlying racism, religious intolerance, and misogyny is like realizing the difference between genocide and war. So thank you.
I sincerely hope I've never offended you out of ignorance, and if I have I hope you'd tell me so.
The misogyny kills me. I think the worst are the, "Oh, those women don't really know what's best for them," type comments because it's like, how can you reduce so many women to nothing by saying that they can't decide something for themselves? I know that there are many women throughout the world that don't have the opportunity to choose a lot of things for themselves, but a lot of women do, and it bothers me that people that should know better can't make that distinction when it comes to this particular issue.
Even when we've disagreed, I know you're not someone who would ever say, "Your opinions are invalid!" which is what I think is really rubbing me wrong.
Oh, sweetheart. While I cannot say I know precisely the place you're coming from, and wouldn't dare compare our experiences with mysogyny/racism/religious discrimination, ignorance sucks pretty hard no matter who you are, and this is one of those times that it particularly sucks hard to be outside of the majority. I hate this paternal, supremacist bullshit, and sweetheart, I hate it even more that you have to take the brunt of it for something like faith.
And I'm sorry if this sounds condescending (or if anything, ever, has sounded condescending coming from me). You shouldn't have to say this, because in a better world, this wouldn't happen.
I've had a pretty comfortable life so far in that the people I've interacted with (including you!) have all been really open-minded and awesome and I've learned a lot from them.
I think part of the problem is that so many Muslims are immigrants and, based on the immigrants I've interacted with (not my parents, but my extended family), a lot of them are racist themselves. So some older people have the idea that they're not like those other, oppressed people, which is just awful because (a) holy crap, racist and (b) you can't stand up and say, "Don't treat me like shit," until you acknowledge that you're being treated like shit.
I'm used to hearing this stuff from the fail-y racists and whoever -- I think we all are -- but what frustrates me is that it's spreading to the well-meaning, ill-informed types who aren't willing to look past their own noses.
I think it's always so much harder to hear it, whatever it is, from well meaning and ill informed types. It's always that way for me, whenever I hear straight up -ism from them because it seems like they honestly believe it, and have accepted that that's just the way things are. I can't settle for that, and I certainly can't be held responsible for that as a member of my given heritage group, whatever it may be. It's annoying, to put it lightly. To put it firmly: there's no better proof of institutionalized -ism than the mailbag comments section of the evening news, and sometimes the internet is just a big vat of that.
Eh - I'd actually not realised this was inspired by a particular fic (decaffeination fail), and now I find myself morbidly fascinated. But it'll just end in tears, won't it?
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Because, seriously, no people. No, no no no no.
Exactly! I really don't think it's that hard, but apparently it is. *sigh*
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THANK YOU for saying this.
I could say more, but...we've said it before, haven't we :P?
Also, I'm adding this post to Memories.
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BTW, may I link to this?
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Sure, link away!
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I sincerely hope I've never offended you out of ignorance, and if I have I hope you'd tell me so.
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Even when we've disagreed, I know you're not someone who would ever say, "Your opinions are invalid!" which is what I think is really rubbing me wrong.
English is my friend!
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I'm sorry people are shitty.
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And I'm sorry if this sounds condescending (or if anything, ever, has sounded condescending coming from me). You shouldn't have to say this, because in a better world, this wouldn't happen.
also, fyi, I miss you something fierce
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I've had a pretty comfortable life so far in that the people I've interacted with (including you!) have all been really open-minded and awesome and I've learned a lot from them.
I think part of the problem is that so many Muslims are immigrants and, based on the immigrants I've interacted with (not my parents, but my extended family), a lot of them are racist themselves. So some older people have the idea that they're not like those other, oppressed people, which is just awful because (a) holy crap, racist and (b) you can't stand up and say, "Don't treat me like shit," until you acknowledge that you're being treated like shit.
I'm used to hearing this stuff from the fail-y racists and whoever -- I think we all are -- but what frustrates me is that it's spreading to the well-meaning, ill-informed types who aren't willing to look past their own noses.
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<3.
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Hello - total stranger here, but a friend just pointed me to your post and, dear heavens, YES. Word.
::applauds::
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This sort of stuff has always been around, but I feel like the past couple of months have been extra super duper special failtastic.
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