Things I like about men...

[3113]

Well, other than the ability to get better jobs, get paid more for the same jobs, get better educations, gain access to cultural and social institutions that were controlled by *other* white males and get elected more easily into political office, yeah, I guess it was a pretty raw deal.

No arguement; I'm entirely on your side and completely PC--the white men were the "enemy" at that time, after all, the power that wanted to keep its power and so were aiming firehoses, tear gas, slurs and guns at those fighting for, as you say, better jobs, equal pay, better education...etc.

And they still are "the man"--the majority in power and pulling greedy strings.

I think, however, the point is that, at that particular time, anger towards this enemy did spill over onto young men who had no power and no wish to oppress anyone. And I'm certainly willing to throw a "pity party" for them. There's never any reason that a "son" should have his teeth put on edge because the father eats sour grapes (as the saying goes).

One of my stories is all about the guilt suffered by a modern white guy over his belief that the spiritual sins of his ancestors (slave owners) have been passed on down to him. As I have one of the characters emphasize in that story, if we go back far enough, we'll find that all our ancestors committed some kind of horrible sin against someone--and that's tribes against tribes (substitute countries if you like), colors against colors, genders against genders, religions against religions. If we assign guilt and blame in that regard, by what others of our race/gender/religion did to others, in the past or in the present, then none of us is escaping blame.

It could perhaps be argued that Western white males have committed disproportionally more sins than any other race/gender/religion. But tossing in atrocities commited throughout history by the Far East, Africa, etc.....I'm not so sure.

For anyone old enough to have perpetrated and maintained the status quo in the U.S. against women and minorities, however...I hope they get exactly what they deserve, in this world and the next. But each generation gets to make their own choice on whether they'll try to maintain such wrongs or rectify them. Color and gender should not instantly brand them as "the enemy."

 

[Mercurius]

For anyone old enough to have perpetrated and maintained the status quo in the U.S. against women and minorities, however...I hope they get exactly what they deserve, in this world and the next. But each generation gets to make their own choice on whether they'll try to maintain such wrongs or rectify them. Color and gender should not instantly brand them as "the enemy."

Good points, including the ones I didn't quote. Perhaps it is more accurate to think of it as a class struggle more than anything else. Because the wives of rich, powerful white men don't seem to be fighting the power, and I've known plenty of rich, powerful blacks, hispanics and other minorities who cling to and abuse their positions and their wealth as much as any Dick Cheney in the world.

By the way, am I the only one who thinks of good old "Undisclosed Location" Cheney as the living, breathing embodiment of The Man? I swear I can feel his boot on my neck as I write this.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I miss this thread...


the way they smell...

how rough and strong their hands are...

how deep their voices are...

 

[Kev H]

Good points, including the ones I didn't quote. Perhaps it is more accurate to think of it as a class struggle more than anything else. Because the wives of rich, powerful white men don't seem to be fighting the power, and I've known plenty of rich, powerful blacks, hispanics and other minorities who cling to and abuse their positions and their wealth as much as any Dick Cheney in the world.

By the way, am I the only one who thinks of good old "Undisclosed Location" Cheney as the living, breathing embodiment of The Man? I swear I can feel his boot on my neck as I write this.

You have a definate right to be afraid is his "peppering" you. It may be an undeserved image cooked up by his opposition (we all know how brutal politics can be), but I certainly would not defend him. Evil seems to have gotten better at hiding its face these days.