On one hand, it’s true. It’s part of white privilege which is tangible.
On the other hand, however less often people in a privileged class are realistically impacted by discrimination, it’s still > 0.0%. Since it usually costs nothing more to include everyone it seems useful.
But I think the biggest reason it’s important to care about discrimination wherever it shows up and not let people off the hook is that it’s unifying.
There’s a story out of Buddhism that suggests it’s important to think equally kindly about rich people, kind of similar in that they’re a privileged class.
I know it’s a hard sell. I don’t do it justice here. However a powerful argument can be made that not disparaging privileged classes, actually helps us all in the long run/big picture.
If I get down voted I understand, that’s ok. If it makes a difference I don’t mean to minimize the 10,000 year history of pain suffered by any humans due to discrimination.
The powerful argument is that you should treat everyone well, period, and not do some kind of calculation to decide how cruel you're allowed to be to them.
First, acknowledging the thinking behind a common opinion is not the same as sympathizing with it. It’s only stating a concept I disagree with.
Secondly, it’d be nice to take credit for this, big fucking idea, but unfortunately it’d be thousands of years too late. I explicitly mentioned the source.
Finally, I don’t see how it’s not a novel idea. If you started asking people to think kindly about rich Wall Street bankers or cable company executives would everyone he instantly on board?
I know those are extreme examples but that was the point of the story. What’s indeed not novel is to say, think well of all people.
The hard part is when you try to actually apply it equally, including to less popular but highly privileged classes of people.
I don’t claim that I can do it all the time, I’m sure I don’t in fact. However for any ideal shouldn't it be ok to try and work towards it over time?
Edit: I've had just about enough of people using "white privilege" to justify violence and blatant discrimination because "they haven't been exposed to enough". Its just another way to justify racism. Plenty of white people live in poverty. Its not ok in either direction.
Nice! Casual ageism and racism mixed into one post.