White Privilege the New Original Sin

[phil3]

Weird. It’s always bizarre when people try to tag me as a “liberal”.

Not trying to tag anything. Your just speaking platitudes. Useless phrases. Nothing you wrote has or will make a difference.

 

[QContinuum]

Terms are frequently subject to individual interpretations, which is why I found the article helpful in hearkening back to the origin of the term.

 

[phil3]

Again, I don’t think you understand what white privilege is. It’s not something to be ashamed of, afraid of, it’s not a sin, it’s not something you do or don’t do to obtain it.

It simply is.

And you, the beneficiary of it, can use it towards virtuous ends. Something we are called to do as Christians.

I don’t measure the corporal or spiritual works of mercy I do. You can’t measure the amount of virtue you cultivate— prudence, temperance, modesty, faith, hope, Charity.

And you’re never done with any of the works of mercy or with building virtue. It’s a lifelong pursuit.

Again with the 100% useless phrase. How will this have BLM quit screaming about white privilege?

You seem to have your pulse on the issue. Tell me what needs to be done to get black to stop blaming white people?

I

I don’t measure the corporal or spiritual works of mercy I do. You can’t measure the amount of virtue you cultivate— prudence, temperance, modesty, faith, hope, Charity.

And you’re never done with any of the works of mercy or with building virtue. It’s a lifelong pursuit.

So youre tell me that if only white would do these things is will solve racism?

From raising our own awareness and then that of others, to stepping in when we see things happening, to getting involved in the community, to voting, to outreach, to friendship, to listening, to speaking out… and on and on.

And what to People of Color have to do?

 

[phil3]

But the fact is I had a black female tell me my ability to save was due to my white privilege. I laughed till I cried. I explained to her that my family grew up poor, extremely poor. There were days we went to bed hungry. Almost all my clothing were handme downs. Most people can not understand the level of poverty I lived in.

But my parent taught me to work hard, go to college, get a good paying job. As a result all 6 of us sibling and been successful in family and jobs.

It doesn’t take much to be successful. I know people that earned no more than $35,000 a year and yet have retired will money in the bank. I know people that have earned no more than $35,000 and raised a family.

 

[Convert3]

I know people that have earned no more than $35,000 and raised a family.

I know people that have earned $200,000 per year and are in debt trying to live like they make $1M/ year and it will never end. Race doesn’t matter. Learning either by parents, school, church or self teaching about money matters is what’s important. Neither my wife or I grew up in a wealthy home. She had a family of seven sharing one bathroom. Each our parents divorced. We both made our own way through school. She was widowed with a child at 28. I was divorced in my first marriage. Neither of us had it easy. But between our work ethic and self learning on finances, we’ve done very well. I was passed over for jobs by people of various races, but I don’t hold that against them. I’m sure they worked just as hard as I did. I’ve had many friends over the years do well in their careers, and some not so well, from all races. I get really tired when people try to blame others if everything isn’t coming easily to them.

 

[phil3]

So in 1982 your High School did all this. Heck I went to school with blacks since elementary school. We marched in the same band. Played the same sports, ate in the same cafeteria and went to the same classes. The only place we did seem to share was Mass. But the only thing keeping them out of Mass was Them.

btw, that was 38 years ago. Seems to me we still have the same issues today we had then. So what you did did not make a difference.

 

[QContinuum]

But the fact is I had a black female tell me my ability to save was due to my white privilege.

Yes, I believe you. One person’s opinion does not affirm or negate, nor encompass something so large as inbuilt systemic racial advantage.

I explained to her that my family grew up poor, extremely poor. There were days we went to bed hungry. Almost all my clothing were handme downs. Most people can not understand the level of poverty I lived in.

And as the article clearly states, white privilege does not negate white poverty. It is not that white people never have had struggles, it’s that systemic racism against wasn’t one of them.

 

[phil3]

There is no systematic racism. Are there racist, yep. Are they in position of authority, yep. But every where I look there are blacks, white, Hispanics, Asians, and other minorities working and living together. sorry I am guilty of nothing and owe no one anything. Any man or woman can do exactly what I did. Nothing is stopping them. Well nothing except their excuses

 

[phil3]

And as the article clearly states, white privilege does not negate white poverty. It is not that white people never have had struggles, it’s that systemic racism against wasn’t one of them.

But so many blacks blame white privilege as the reason they are poor.

 

[tuffsmurf]

Do all white people have white privilege or only those in America?

 

[EmilyAlexandra]

White Privilege is the new original sin. If you are white, you’re are born with it. But with white privilege, unlike original sin, there is no way to be cleansed of it.

That sounds like a massive exaggeration. I am white and I do not feel as if I am suffering some kind of persecution.

It amazes me how whites are the global minority but somehow they’re the creators of all suffering.

If you identify as Rhodesian rather than Zimbabwean, I am assuming that you are white. So am I, if that is relevant. I think the thing one has to understand is that although white people are indeed a minority, we have historically been uniquely well equipped to conquer remote civilisations. E.g.:

• The largest, fastest ships
• Highly trained professional navies
• Detailed maps
• Sophisticated navigational equipment
• Superior weaponry
• Western medicine
• Large, unified states with centralised bureaucracy and the ability to levy taxes
• The capacity to replicate the structures of European states in colonies
• Highly developed economies with a banking system
• Experience of waging wars between European countries
• The ability to distribute information through printing
• The belief that it was necessary to contact other peoples in order to convert them to Christianity
• The ability to self-consciously emulate the empires of Greece and Rome
• An education system designed to serve the needs of an empire

 

[phil3]

That sounds like a massive exaggeration. I am white and I do not feel as if I am suffering some kind of persecution.

All you have to do is listen to BLM speeches.

 

[Elizabeth3]

Buying into the “White Privilege” term actually seems pretty condescending to blacks as it’s being described here. “I must acknowledge and increase my awareness of my privilege and pity you for your lack of it. You need me to help you out of your unprivileged position.” Virtue signaling at it’s worst. Ugh.

Someone above brought up living the virtues. If we focus on that… If we work on growing in virtue in our everyday lives, without political slogans and without empty grand gestures, we will each be doing more good for society that doesn’t involve buying into these political movements that cause more division/hate rather than healing/unity.

 

[QContinuum]

There is no systematic racism.

Yes, there is unless you are flatly denying the history Ike has already summarized. It has nothing to do with your individual guilt. Systemic refers to the financial systems, educational systems, government policies, etc. that have worked to benefit white people and disadvantage others. Examples include red lining, federal funding of white suburban communities through low interest infrastructure loans, even while interstates were laid through AA communities, banks refused to lend in many AA communities, and so on and so forth. The many examples are endless if one but makes a minimal effort to research the subject.

This is not about individual guilt. It is about recognition that racial based policies are still endemic across the country.

 

[QContinuum]

Buying into the “White Privilege” term

Conversely, ignoring a problem by focusing on terminology doesn’t make the problem go away. Admitting there is a problem is the first step.

I posted an article that neatly summarizes what is and what is not “white privilege.”

 

[QContinuum]

Do all white people have white privilege or only those in America?

Perhaps start with the article I posted as an introductory to the term’s meaning and origin. Your two-part question strikes me as a false dichotomy. The answer is “no.”

 

[Nepperhan]

sorry I am guilty of nothing and owe no one anything. Any man or woman can do exactly what I did. Nothing is stopping them. Well nothing except their excuses

What you need to know is that in the US the history of racial discrimination has benefited ALL people in the majority including their communities. Conversely, that discrimination has harmed all those who are descendants of the people discriminated against. I have heard since 1964 that everything now is fine but the EEOC has not gone out of business!

This has been explained several times – it does not matter if you have not ever met a person of color. There is a documented history fo those in the majority receiving jobs, education and other benefits which could and should have gone to higher qualified minorities. It makes for a much sounder argument for reparations for past discrimination. The effects of discrimination did not just disappear.

Retired black police seek pension parity

Yes, there is a legacy of white privilege in the US. Quit fooling yourself.

 

[Elizabeth3]

Conversely, ignoring a problem by focusing on terminology doesn’t make the problem go away. Admitting there is a problem is the first step.

One doesn’t need to buy into the political rhetoric to admit problems. It isn’t about ignoring a problem by focusing on terminology but rather ignoring divisive and condescending slogans so one is free to actually do something IRL and not contribute further to hate and disunity.

 

[Nepperhan]

One doesn’t need to buy into the political rhetoric to admit problems. It isn’t about ignoring a problem by focusing on terminology but rather ignoring divisive and condescending slogans so one is free to actually do something IRL and not contribute further to hate and disunity.

What slogan would those conservatives in the majority accept except: “It was bad but I didn’t do it!”

 

[libbeylu]

Proud to be born WHITE! I lived my life by doing what was the RIGHT thing to do…got and education, a successful Career, a beautiful home, and LOVE my God and Thank him every day for my many Blessings! And currently live in FEAR knowing how we are HATED by others! God Loves us all and created all of us…