One of the challenges I have is trying to embrace racism based comments for their intent, rather than the literal ramifications.
One example is the Black Lives Matter statement. It's true. And the point initially made has some value, because it's in the face of oppression. But, does it really help or does it harm?
IMO, disregarding the problems with the official group (focusing only on the slogan itself), it does more harm. It brings greater focus on the division rather than mending it. Perhaps "Black Lives Matter Too" would be better? Or it would have more impact if white people carried the banner, but black people held something complementary and uniting (nothing directly coming to mind right now).
The other is the white privilege thing. On one hand, I have to admit that the concept is very real. On the other, the very words are horribly wrong.
The main problem with the terminology is that it confuses privilege with rights. Rather than focusing on the fact that in many cases people are not enjoying the same degree of freedom as others based on the color of their skin, it focuses on the rights that one segment gets to enjoy. It misses the point entirely. And by bringing "male" into the picture, it just exacerbates the issue.
By embracing this slogan, a way to fix it would be to take these perceived privileges away from white men. Then we could all enjoy a lesser degree of freedom together.
A smarter and, IMO, more virtuous course would be to focus on the denigration of freedoms of some segments of society based on superficial categories. We should be fighting for one another's freedoms and a lack of equal ability to exercise our rights rather than demonizing one segment because they have more liberty to exercise some rights than others.
When it comes down to it, we're being played off each other. It's a media circus augmented by a culture where everyone is a victim of everyone else. Politicians have a field day with it.
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Yes I believe it is mostly media fueled. I've been around long enough to see racism and bigotry decline a massive amount since the 1970s which was the earliest I was around with memory. It was going good places. Then the media started hyping certain things. What CERTAIN law enforcement is doing is appalling. It is not new. It is actually likely that it is less than it was not too long ago. I don't hear stories about lynchings and things like that. I hear stories about police abuse. I believe that abuse has existed for a long time. It is just being heavily reported now. IT SHOULD BE. We also should be doing something about it for blacks, and everyone else. INDIVIDUALS who harm others should be held accountable regardless of the skin color, sexual preference, religion, etc of the individual.
We also seriously need some critical thinking taught to people. Most people have no clear understanding of what a GENERALIZATION is and how it is a total logical fallacy. If a person refers to "BLACK people are X" they are implying ALL black people are specific thing. If they say "That was WHITE of you" they are doing the same thing. Generalizations are false. We are all humans. We are individuals. A person attempting to group you up and label you does not change the fact that people are individuals. The labels and groups are people choosing to stereotype, classify, and generalize. If there are medical/genetic concerns that are critical to such grouping that is one thing, but that is about the only reason I can think to group someone.
As to BLACK LIVES MATTER. I was okay with the term and what it meant when it came out. Yet as with anything that emphasizes a color (or a specific group) it is open to interpretation. Some have chosen to interpret that as ONLY BLACK LIVES MATTER, or perhaps BLACK LIVES MATTER MORE. I don't say that is the entire movement. It is not. Yet they are often very vocal and active. The news also loves to show them.
Really what BLACK LIVES MATTER meant was ALL LIVES MATTER so why are black people being attacked, wrongfully prosecuted, and harrassed by law enforcement at a disproportionate level. It was EASIER to say BLACK LIVES MATTER. Some of them don't think ALL LIVES MATTER delivers their message. I personally believe it does. Because, the attacks by law enforcement are disproportionately high for blacks, but they are too high for EVERYONE.
Furthermore, it is often black law enforcement officers doing it. Not always, so this problem is a lot wider than simply blacks being attacked by non-blacks.
There is also a problem in the nation where DISAGREEING with something a person of color says quickly gets you lumped as a RACIST.
If a black guy says "The earth is flat" and I disagree that does not mean I am racist.
The truth doesn't care what color we are. So if someone says something illogical or false and I challenge it, my challenge will never have a damn thing to do with their skin color.
It is actually the person that pulls the racist label in such a disagreement that is racist. They believe they should be able to say whatever they want and people must simply agree with them, or they are racist. Without realizing it... they are the one enacting the racism.
And ultimately I believe the issue would have healed itself, and we would have come together united to deal with the problems of the Law Enforcement and other issues, but the media keeps making it worse. People now are not focused on Law Enforcement... they are focused on talking about white privilege, and that what you said sounds white (was done to me below this).
As to White privilege. It really depends upon where you live in the nation. When I lived in Texas in the 70s there definitely was white privilege. In Colorado where I've lived I've never see that. In fact, I've only encountered special privileges for minorities.
I do know that other parts of the country it is apparently very bad. It is white people living in these places that confirm this. Yet we are a nation of 50 states and they are not all the same. This is another generalization. I'd heard about the racism vs whites on Hawaii before from another friend that lived there for a couple of years, but I've never visited it.
I actually myself have NEVER received any special benefit due to my skin color. Not a single time. For people that believe White Privilege is everywhere, maybe that is just bad luck...
TBH, I missed the reptilian. That's funny. I think if it was later in the article I might have caught it, but my focus was on content first, so I wasn't as in tune with the topic yet. Of course, I might have missed it anyway, since I tend to be bigoted against many reptiles.
I get the impression I have just a few years on you. We were middle-class and I grew up around a lot of wealth. It wasn't mine, but I got to enjoy some of the benefits of it because of spending time with friends. IMO, that was a privilege, but it just was what it was, having nothing to do with ethnicity. My point is that it wasn't my right, and that's how it would be regardless of ethnic background. Mom's family was poor - cotton pickers and hillbillies. We actually have a trace of African on her side, but it doesn't show that I'm aware of. Dad's side was farmers and entrepreneurs, fairly comfortable but not rich.
We've enjoyed a lot of love on both sides. That's just human.
Agreed.
I really have no idea if I've benefited from the color of my skin. As another generalization, though an accurate one, whites tend to have more financial resources. So I won't look that gift horse in the mouth.
I was passed for a promotion in favor of a black guy once. Some who knew us both said they thought it was his color. I sincerely doubt it. He was a very organized and efficient worker whose style was very different than my own. I think he earned it, and I was promoted to the same level as soon as their was an opening.
I got passed up for a job in favor of a woman once. They actually told me that they had to hire a female. It was a regulatory thing. Crazy world. I was disappointed at the time, but couldn't care less now.
Thanks for the chat. It was nice resonating with someone, in spite of the added comment that seems bent on fueling the fire.
I've been in on meetings where they were forced to hire a minority. I don't know that it every happened to me. I have been a very vocal person trying to get a black person I worked with promoted to a position above me because I respected him and his work. Eventually we succeeded. I would rather people get the job due to their abilities, not due to race or gender.
I realize there are still bigots that are biased, yet I believe most of that died off a couple of decades ago. Though this resurgence of racism is NOT helping. It is setting things back. It is actually making some people racist who were not because they get caught up in one or more sides of the emotional journeys and groups going on. It is not a positive thing for ANYONE.
I truly try to treat everyone equal. I don't really see a person based upon skill, colors, etc unless it is forced upon me.
I've had black people I really respected, and friends that were black that I had these discussions with. I haven't seen any of them for many years and that was all before the BLM and media blitz... so I don't know if they are changed, but I kind of doubt they had... they were smart people that spent time thinking rather than getting sucked into emotional tornadoes.
EDIT: As to better finances. I've never lived anywhere that helped me. I grew up in a very poor white family. Lived in trailors, used out houses some times, on food stamps most of my life as a child, etc.
I am not on assistance now, but I just barely scrape by because I am taking care of 7 people on just my income.
Before I forget... how did you like my sticking that "Reptillian" on the end of the line of races in my intro image... :P That was my secret humor.