Comments on: White Privilege

By: Teppish

Teppish — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:15:51 +0000

You’re right - modern books definitely have a more fair coverage… but this is a history of how beforehand, they didn’t http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmintro1.html.

I’ll address the AA comments in a bit…

By: Antigrammatik

Antigrammatik — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:30:16 +0000

Ah, actually, I didn’t realize that you meant that. I don’t remember any history book specifically identifying race. I doubt that there’s some sort of consipiracy to keep other races out of modern US history books. The fact of the matter is that 3/4 of the United States population is Caucasian. Based on that proportion, of course caucasian persons have a higher representation in history books.

So now you’re saying that AA needs to give an advantage to persons based on economic status as well? So as a person who is currently employed, you could never be employed by an AA company?

By: Teppish

Teppish — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:38:45 +0000

I obviously meant American History books not European/World history.

Let me rephrase my AA comment. I believe that AA aims to make people equal, i.e. get them to the same base. So, yes it does favor minorities if looking at it from a pure black and white (no pun intended) view. But I don’t think it can be evaluated from this point of view. The only criticism I can have for AA is that maybe it needs to factor in (maybe it already does) economic factors to really evaluate who needs help.

By: Antigrammatik

Antigrammatik — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:32:23 +0000

I think that you’re a little off base there on your history book comment. Our history books are largely based on European history because we’re a European colony and most of us are descended from European ancestry. There’s plenty of caucasian history that isn’t accounted for in the typical history book just like they ignore every other continent other than Europe.

Based on your second sentance about affirmative action how can you say your first one? AA says you got screwed because you were different so now we’re going to screw everyone else.

By: Teppish

Teppish — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 22:00:04 +0000

Yeah because why should a country help those whose economic and social base it systemically retarded for all those years? It makes sense that we should all act equal, despite the whites having years and years and years of a head start.

Whites have white history month every damn month and in every damn history book. Black history month is just trying to show the importance of black contribution to this country - something that’s been obviously neglected.

Affirmative action does not say anyone is different. It says certain peoples were screwed and are now as a people, operate from a generally harder base than other people, and that needs to be balanced. No judgment is made on any other difference.

By: Antigrammatik

Antigrammatik — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:18:11 +0000

Well I guess that’s not entirely true Title VII should protect everyone. But for some reason it certainly feels that every other class has some additional protection.

By: Antigrammatik

Antigrammatik — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:40:04 +0000

How does white privilege exist in a world with affirmative action?

How does white privilege exist in a world where there’s black history month but if someone suggested white history month they would be labeled a racist?

I think that these types of things do more harm than good by highlighting that there’s an difference in people that some troglodytes still get hung up on. If people would stop beating the drum of “we’re different and we expect to be treated the same” then people would forget they’re different and would treat everyone the same.

Discrimination exists in this country. It exists for male caucasians from 18 to 40 because everyone else is a protected class. This is the only demographic that can legally be discriminated against.

By: Madame

Madame — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:45:23 +0000

Come, come now Antigrammatik… the author was clearly going overboard with some of his examples. But let’s not pretend he was completely off-target. White privilege exists; it is a fact of life. Just like male privilege, wealth privilege, etc. The real question is, how do we address the issue.

By: Antigrammatik

Antigrammatik — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:13:07 +0000

I could respond to the article by Tim Wise however I feel that the words have already been excellently expressed in the movie Billy Madison. I will substitute Tim Wise’s name for Billy’s in the appropriate place.

“Mr. Wise, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”

By: Madame

Madame — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:32:13 +0000

“White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.”

Never have truer words been spoken. When I lived in the south - every white teenage boy I knew had a gun in the house. And nobody EVER questioned it.