Friday, August 04, 2017
Ok, so here is a quick quiz: What to all these statements beginnings have
in common? "All black people
are..." "All white people
are...", "All asian people are...", "All gay people
are...", "All trans people are...", "All cis people
are...", "All men
are...", "All women are...", "All straight people are..."
Go on, think it over. I'll wait.
Ask a friend if you need to.
Those of you who said, "They were all just typed by you. Weren't you paying attention?" are
technically correct, but that is not the answer I am looking for. Give up?
They all signal that the speaker is about to say something bigoted and
more than likely, colossally stupid. To
those of you who just pointed out that I just said (typed) all of them, touché.
Am I the only one who finds amazing the level of hypocrisy, narcissism
and utter lack self awareness that is on display when someone says something
along the lines of "All men are
misogynistic", "all white people are racist". or :"all cis
people are transphobic.". There is
a disturbing idea that seems to be gaining in popularity that bigotry is
something that only certain types of people can be guilty of. "Certain types of people" My, doesn't that sound familiar?
To be specific, that "certain type of person" is usually a
straight white male. Now before everyone
loses their shit, take a deep breath, relax..
I am not sure why but when someone says something along those lines
people immediately jump to the conclusion that that person is saying that
bigotry against others either somehow less.
This is ridiculous, there is more than enough stupidity within the human
psyche for all. One group's struggle
does not lessen the struggle of another.
Not every discussion of the struggles faced by the various groups needs
to turn into an oppression-based pissing contest.
Am I saying that everyone who is not a straight white male is a bigot or
that a straight white male can not be a bigot?
Absolutely not. The statement
that someone is incapable of bigotry simply because they belong to one group or
another would not only be prejudice but colossally stupid. If you subscribe to that philosophy, keep
this in mind, I fall into a few groups that are generally considered to have
been oppressed so clearly I can not be bigoted.
See how silly that sounds?
Think I am overstating the matter?
Think of our popular culture and what we consider acceptable and
unacceptable to say. Think about our
various groups that seek the advancement of one group or another. Now replace the stated group with straight,
white or male. When it is ok for a black
character who is not at base a racist character rolls their eyes and says with
exasperation " White people!" it is okay but if a parallel white character
were to do the same thing except saying "Black people!" what do you
think the reaction would be? Which
statement is racist? Trick question,
they are both just as racist. "Dear White People"? Why is that okay? "Black Entertainment Channel"? What would the response to a "White
Entertainment Channel"? A women
only club? How is that any less sexist
than a men only club?
I take issue with any group that seeks to separate humankind. The issues that face one of us face all of us
and need to be addressed by all of us. Separation
is counterproductive at best. All of us
working together is far more effective than all of us working separately. Now that may sound idealistic but that
doesn't make it any less true.
There is a great deal more to say in this subject but this will do for
now.
Rant Over... For Now
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