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- #101
Not a lot of benefit from racism IMHO. And to suggest that those who are not actively dismantling racism are participating in it is ridiculous. Most of us have lives to live and families to take care of, and have no time to fix societies ills, which includes a lot more issues than racism. There is an inherent feeling in this country from it's inception that you fix your own problems. So why not stop obsessing about race and get on with making yourself a better person.
PS: this isn't politics, so why is this thread here?
That's cold, man. You have a dim view of our founding principles. I don't know where in any of the founding documents you can find that everyone's in it on their own. I think that's more of a modern conservative concept that is falsely overlaid on our history. I think we're founded on the principle that by working together we can promote the common good. Providing for the general welfare is right there in the first sentence of the constitution.
The reason that those of us who are privileged have the responsibility to dismantle racism is that we benefit from it. Do you agree that we benefit from other people's loss every day. Doesn't that make you feel bad?
My basic problem with your outlook on racism is that you're expecting somebody else to take responsibility for an inequality they did not create. I will not accept responsibility for somebody else's discriminatory or racist actions, either past, present, or future. I will support laws that preclude such actions and punsh transgressors. And I would support using public money, primarily loans, to help finance programs that teach people a trade or in some effective way give them a chance to succeed. But not if it turns into a way of living, moving from one program to the next on my tax dollars. I don't care who you are or what color your skin is, you are responsibile for your actions and should pay for the consequences of your decisions, whatever they may be.
You didn't answer my questions. Do you agree that we benefit form other people's loss every day? Doesn't that make you feel bad?
It's just this funny thing I have. When I see injustice, I think that people have the responsibility to correct it. You wouldn't walk past a drowning child and do nothing to help. Why would you watch children be born into an unjust world and not try to do something about it?
I can't force you to do anything. You have every right to ignore the plight of your common man. But I think less of you for it.