As a white, middle-class, able-bodied, cis-gendered, woman. I sort of have to pipe in here. Please don't take offense. Because I really *do* understand where that argument comes from I've *made* it. You cannot, in anyway shape or form compare "white guilt" to the persecution of minorities. Ever. It's presumptuous in the best of intentions and downright insulting in the worst. As a white, cis-gendered person I don't have to hunt for movie or story heroes that look like me. I can blissfully take for granted that everywhere I go I'm the norm. I don't, and I never *will* understand fully what that is like.
This does not make me a bad person. It makes me a privileged one. "Turn the other cheek" works only if the people communicating are on even ground. It only works if there is not a position of power or privilege involved. There are levels in all human communication and by claiming that "I don't see them" or "I am colorblind" I am not helping. I'm doing a grave disservice to the struggles of those minorities.
Is it upsetting when people are angry at you for hurting them? Yes, yes it is. But that doesn't erase the hurt. Minorities have been *invisible* for so, so long. Anger, sadly, is a way to get noticed. You cannot put the onus of the receiver of the "ism" to correct someone else. People cannot control what other people do, only the person committing the action can. And people are people, they have limits. You can't expect every struggling person to smile and be thankful. Even really happy, thankful people have their moments.
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branchandroot
Sorry to butt in
Date: 2010-07-22 11:27 pm (UTC)This does not make me a bad person. It makes me a privileged one. "Turn the other cheek" works only if the people communicating are on even ground. It only works if there is not a position of power or privilege involved. There are levels in all human communication and by claiming that "I don't see them" or "I am colorblind" I am not helping. I'm doing a grave disservice to the struggles of those minorities.
Is it upsetting when people are angry at you for hurting them? Yes, yes it is. But that doesn't erase the hurt. Minorities have been *invisible* for so, so long. Anger, sadly, is a way to get noticed. You cannot put the onus of the receiver of the "ism" to correct someone else. People cannot control what other people do, only the person committing the action can. And people are people, they have limits. You can't expect every struggling person to smile and be thankful. Even really happy, thankful people have their moments.