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Does your whiteness make you uncomfortable?

(Multiple choice options) As a white person. . .

  • being white is uncomfortable for me.

    Votes: 1 2.2%

  • as a white person I need help to discuss social issues.

    Votes: 1 2.2%

  • I would appreciate a seminar to teach me how to discuss social issues.

    Votes: 2 4.4%

  • none of this ever occurred to me.

    Votes: 29 64.4%

  • Other that I will explain in my post.

    Votes: 15 33.3%
  • Total voters
    45
Da_Dude said:
I'm proud of where I come from, thank you very much. While I acknowledge some dark spots in our society's past, that doesn't mean that I am in any way responsible for them, or that other societies and peoples do not have equally dark periods in their own history. Context is key.

Claiming that whites are in any way uniquely bad, or responsible for the world's evils, is pure propagandistic nonsense, meant to serve ulterior political agendas.
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Well done. Spread the propoganda!
 
Bodhisattva said:
That may be what it is about but that is what makes it dumb. Whites dont say "but, but... I'm a nice person, therefore I don't want or need to think about this and/or it doesn't actually exist!" They say... "i am a nice NON RACIST person that cant control what racists do so I shouldn't be villified for working and raising kids just because I am white"
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...And thus the problem with their inability to understand that the conversation is not about them as an individual or, for that matter, any individual. It is not about "villifying" anyone.

The discussion of hierarchies of power is about how society works, not about that time your Uncle Bob used the n-word and no one said anything because he's really old.

But white people are so used to conversations being about them, their opinions, their merit, etc, that they are often unable to understand that we are discussing something much bigger than them, and no one cares about their personal merit in this conversation. This is about society, not you.
 
SmokeAndMirrors said:
...And thus the problem with their inability to understand that the conversation is not about them as an individual or, for that matter, any individual. It is not about "villifying" anyone.

The discussion of hierarchies of power is about how society works, not about that time your Uncle Bob used the n-word and no one said anything because he's really old.

But white people are so used to conversations being about them, their opinions, their merit, etc, that they are often unable to understand that we are discussing something much bigger than them, and no one cares about their personal merit in this conversation. This is about society, not you.
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I am talking about society and not the individual. White society is villified when all the vast majority do is work ... raise kids... and not be racist in any way.
 
Bodhisattva said:
I don't outright laugh at non-white people but I often point to my skin and give them a thumb's up and the, "oh yeah... I am white" smirk and nod...
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In the limited time and ability to get to know you, I think I really doubt that. :)

I also think the seminar at Michigan State would probably not appeal to you unless you were really REALLY bored and wanted to make fun of something. :)
 
Bodhisattva said:
See posts 42 and 43...
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Holy ****ing **** that was funny! I laughed my ass off! Ask a stupid question...get a stupid answer. Good responses. I hope someone doesn’t pick up on the sarcasm.
 
Bodhisattva said:
I am talking about society and not the individual. White society is villified when all the vast majority do is work ... raise kids... and not be racist in any way.
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Actually it's pretty well demonstrated that almost everyone of all races has engrained racial biases starting from the time they're in diapers, and it'd be great if we could deal with that rather than white people making everything about their bruised ego because they can't stop getting distracted from the conversation by their need to feel validated.
 
Da_Dude said:
I'm proud of where I come from, thank you very much. While I acknowledge some dark spots in our society's past, that doesn't mean that I am in any way responsible for them, or that other societies and peoples do not have equally dark periods in their own history. Context is key.

Claiming that whites are in any way uniquely bad, or responsible for the world's evils, is pure propagandistic nonsense, meant to serve ulterior political agendas.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree though I think the Michigan State seminar seems to have taken a slightly different slant. It seems to assume that some of us are so conscious of and ashamed of our whiteness that we have difficulty discussing, let along dealing with, social issues. That concept was so foreign to me personally, I just wondered if anybody else related to it? :)
 
Perotista said:
I am what I am and others are what they are. If it bothers others to be what they are, then there is something wrong with their life. If one feels guilt being what they are, then they either did something they weren't suppose to and they are idiots. I can't control what others do and I certainly can't change what others did before me. Perhaps it's time for everyone in this dang world realize that. Take care of oneself and live the best life one possible can and let the world float on by.

If there is something I can do to help someone or something, I'll do it if I can. If there is nothing I can do, I don't worry about. Only fools worry about something they have no control over or can't do a dang thing about it. That's how ulcers develop.
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So we can assume you wouldn't have signed up for that seminar? :)
 
SmokeAndMirrors said:
Actually it's pretty well demonstrated that almost everyone of all races has engrained racial biases starting from the time they're in diapers, and it'd be great if we could deal with that rather than white people making everything about their bruised ego because they can't stop getting distracted from the conversation by their need to feel validated.
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Uh-huh... but white people are the racists.
 
Glen Contrarian said:
Oh, it applies to this thread all right. Whatever your wording may have been, the intent behind your posting of this thread is pretty doggone obvious.
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What was the intent?
 
Bodhisattva said:
Uh-huh... but white people are the racists.
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Yes, I hurt your ego, despite saying nothing about you, because you assume everything must be about you, I get it. Get back to me when you're interested in the actual topic, which is not you.
 
faithful_servant said:
I write in "Viking" as an "Other". So if you se a detailed breakdown of racial demographics in Oregon, that "Viking - .000000001%" is me.
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Viking... ahhh... I have just been writing in White Pillager.
 
SmokeAndMirrors said:
Yes, I hurt your ego, despite saying nothing about you, because you assume everything must be about you, I get it. Get back to me when you're interested in the actual topic, which is not you.
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We were talking about white people but if my comments upset you then you should reflect on your own self perception instead of attacking an innocent white person... or me.
 
Quote...
" Does your whiteness make you uncomfortable? "
Not at all...
(here it comes) and straight.
The opportunities are all there. I would not be anything else.
 
Rutabaga.
 
Bodhisattva said:
That may be what it is about but that is what makes it dumb. Whites dont say "but, but... I'm a nice person, therefore I don't want or need to think about this and/or it doesn't actually exist!" They say... "i am a nice NON RACIST person that cant control what racists do so I shouldn't be villified for working and raising kids just because I am white"
Click to expand...

But what white people say even that? I HAVE said I resent being branded advantaged or racist or privileged because I am white. I know for a a fact that being white doesn't make a person any of those things.

I HAVE said that I resent it when I am informed that I am privileged because I was raised in a traditional two-parent home, had access to a good education, etc. Or that my children/grandchildren are.

To me such things are the norm that should be the standard to aspire to for ALL people regardless of their race or ethnicity or religion or politics. And while I am fully aware that many are dealt garbage while others are fortunate enough to be dealt aces does not mean that anybody should not aspire to rise above their less satisfactory circumstances. And those who suggest it is unimportant for people to aspire to rise above their circumstances should be ignored because their motives are not in the best interest of anybody except perhaps those promoting defeatism instead of possibilities.

Nobody should be ashamed of the circumstances they were born into as none of us have any control over that. But what we make of whatever ability, intelligence, instincts, ambition, vision we possess and the choices we make will dictate the life we will lead far more than whatever circumstances we were born into whether that be garbage or aces.

And I am still mystified at how anybody is so ashamed or insecure or disadvantaged by being white that they would need a seminar to teach them how to deal with it.
 
AlbqOwl said:
But what white people say even that? I HAVE said I resent being branded advantaged or racist or privileged because I am white. I know for a a fact that being white doesn't make a person any of those things.

I HAVE said that I resent it when I am informed that I am privileged because I was raised in a traditional two-parent home, had access to a good education, etc. Or that my children/grandchildren are.

To me such things are the norm that should be the standard to aspire to for ALL people regardless of their race or ethnicity or religion or politics. And while I am fully aware that many are dealt garbage while others are fortunate enough to be dealt aces does not mean that anybody should not aspire to rise above their less satisfactory circumstances. And those who suggest it is unimportant for people to aspire to rise above their circumstances should be ignored because their motives are not in the best interest of anybody except perhaps those promoting defeatism instead of possibilities.

Nobody should be ashamed of the circumstances they were born into as none of us have any control over that. But what we make of whatever ability, intelligence, instincts, ambition, vision we possess and the choices we make will dictate the life we will lead far more than whatever circumstances we were born into whether that be garbage or aces.

And I am still mystified at how anybody is so ashamed or insecure or disadvantaged by being white that they would need a seminar to teach them how to deal with it.
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Stop making sense!!
 
Bodhisattva said:
:roll:
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Not sure if you're agreeing with the disdain I share with the OP, or you mistakenly think I'm disdainful of her; I'm guessing the latter based on your seeming opinion of this event.
 
I am entirely unperturbed by my whiteness, such as it is.


To such extent as I have any feelings about being (mostly) white, I am if anything proud. White people have accomplished much.


Done some heinous things too, sure... so has every "race" on the face of the Earth.


I'm more concerned with what I do as an individual though.
 
Surrealistik said:
Not sure if you're agreeing with the disdain I share with the OP, or you mistakenly think I'm disdainful of her; I'm guessing the latter based on your seeming opinion of this event.
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Neither. I was showing you there is an eyeroll emoticon.
 
AlbqOwl said:
Sometimes I think academia has lost its mind.

Now I don't get up in the morning thinking about being white, nor does that cross my mind at all during the day unless I happen to read or watch something about race. It certainly never occurred to me that I needed help with dealing with my 'whiteness'.

But nevertheless, there is this piece re the University of Michigan this month:

Excerpt:
[FONT="]A two-day professional development conference held recently at the University of Michigan included a training session that aimed to help white employees deal with their “whiteness” so they could become better equipped to fight for social justice causes, according to organizers.

[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#333333][FONT="]Participants who took part in the “Conversations on Whiteness” session, held December 5 during the university’s Student Life Professional Development Conference, were taught to “recognize the difficulties they face when talking about social justice issues related to their White identity, explore this discomfort, and devise ways to work through it,” the university’s website states. . .​
[/FONT]
[FONT="]http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/40145/

[FONT=Verdana]So how about it you folks who check 'white' or 'caucasian' on your census form? Does that bother you a lot? Do you feel a great deal of discomfort being white and at the same time talking about social justice issues? Would this seminar appeal to you?[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT="]

[/FONT]
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It's insulting, period.
 
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