See, this is where we disagree, and where we'll always disagree. You want to "calls into mind the entirety of the history of power imbalance" where I say who cares about history when we're trying to change things NOW? Did whites treat blacks atrociously in the past? Sure. But you know what? I DON'T CARE! I wasn't alive at the time, and my ancestors on BOTH sides weren't even in this country. I have nothing to pay reparations for, to be sorry for, or to be treated worse to make up for. Neither do many, if not most, people in this country. It's true that in the past I've not been a victim of discrimination, but neither have I been on the other side of the coin.
Continually saying "You owe us for the past misdeeds of your ancestors" not only is bullshit (my mother grew up in a concentration camp!), but it just keeps the differences in mind. Minorities are never, ever, going to be treated equally so long as they keep beating the drum of "we're different, we've been wronged by you, you owe us, and oh, yes, have we mentioned we're different?" Equal treatment starts now. It can't start in the past.
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branchandroot
Re: unfair advantages?
Date: 2006-11-02 04:14 pm (UTC)Continually saying "You owe us for the past misdeeds of your ancestors" not only is bullshit (my mother grew up in a concentration camp!), but it just keeps the differences in mind. Minorities are never, ever, going to be treated equally so long as they keep beating the drum of "we're different, we've been wronged by you, you owe us, and oh, yes, have we mentioned we're different?" Equal treatment starts now. It can't start in the past.