[Peace-discuss] driving away members

[C. G. Estabrook]

As I've said, I don't defend Gerstein's language nor any sexism inferred
from it.  And I agree that some white males (me, for example) enjoy
privileges in our society (as do some non-whites and some non-males). But
the identity politics that you imply is a counsel of despair: instead of
working to stop the war or winning the vicious class struggle that
underlies it, we spend our time enforcing manners -- condemning what can't
be said, insisting on what must be admitted, and winkling out "unconscious
racism" (as we did with Howard Dean) and "unconscious sexism" (revealed in
Gerstein's language, regardless of what he might say on the subject).

But, that said, out of curiosity, what do you think would count as my
"giv[ing] up some of my privilege"?  How would you know that I'd done it?  
--CGE


On Wed, 28 Apr 2004, meghan krausch wrote:

> ...Carl, if you don't agree with the idea that white people in general
> and white men in specific recieve more than their share of political
> space, credibility, and time to share their opinions, why are you a
> member of AWARE in the first place? Undoing the social privileges
> given to whites and males in our society seems to be a core goal of
> this group. If you are not willing to give up some of your privilege,
> or, indeed, admit that you even have this privilege, perhaps AWARE is
> not the group for you. (That questions is rhetorical--I don't need you
> to repeat the arguments you've already made.)