[Peace-discuss] Anti-racism

[John W.]

On Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 5:49 AM, Marti Wilkinson <martiwilki at gmail.com>wrote:

The problem with being an advocate for social justice and empowerment is it
> may also end up inadvertently lend itself to what a professor of mine called
> "privileging the discourse" - For example if a person lives in Garden Hills
> or the Douglass Park neighborhood it can be problematic when anyone decides
> these are parts of the community in need of 'fixing'. One time I posted some
> concerns about plans in the Garden Hills area and some of the feedback I
> received was so condescending as to make me want to retch. On another
> occasion I was talking with a woman who attended the U of I and chose to
> wear a head scarf as a show of modesty, she said she found it offensive when
> people responded to her as some poor oppressed Muslim woman.
>
> My idea as to what it means to be empowered may not be the same as that of
> other individuals in this forum and that is perfectly fine. That being said
> I also think that part of advocating for social justice is being willing to
> deconstruct ones own privilege and taking a look at oneself. While I can't
> address Ricky's comments directly, there is a sentiment or tone that I can
> relate to - because there seems to be an effort to pontificate on, instead
> of really understanding a particular issue or subject matter. Furthermore,
> why should someone who has some privilege even attempt to 'speak for'
> marginalized groups?


I suppose because there's no one "correct" definition of "privilege" or
"marginalized".   So it seems to me that it's better for us to speak up for
one another - to speak up for ANYONE who is undergoing some sort of duress
in their lives - rather than for no one to speak up for anyone else for fear
of being "condescending".

That said, the problem I have is with people who are all talk and no
action.  No one here on this forum, of course....  :-)




> This is a tricky situation and one where a road to hell can be paved with
> good intentions.
>
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 6, 2009 at 9:25 PM, unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net> wrote:
>
>> Ricky, et al,
>>
>> Carl and his wife live a comfortable middle class life.
>>
>> I don't think they should have to appologize for that,
>>
>> They have had the blessings of the perfect triad ; hard work,
>> intelligence, and luck.
>>
>> What makes them special, is that they could easily take the attitude that
>> anyone not like them are losers !
>>
>> Carl's wife works MANY hours at the Catholic Worker  House helping and
>> feeding the poor ( which could be any of us and many of us if economic
>> conditions deteriorate badly enough ).
>> Carl and his wife are NOT just about advocating charity, but ENPOWERMENT
>> as well !
>>
>> I must say though, Carl is a " class traitor ", that is, a traitor to the
>> ruling class !
>> And I love him for it !
>>
>> It is admirable that Carl is not ashamed of his Irish working class roots,
>> who ( the Irish ) were exploited and worked to death for little
>> compensation, like African Americans, Eastern Eurpopeans, and multitudes of
>> others in the plantation they call America.
>>
>> If Carl was like many people in this society, he would cover-up his
>> working class heritage, but instead he acknowledges it and learns from it,
>> to critique the current remnants of the plantation mentality / imperialist
>> institutional structure in this society.
>> Even if we may disagree at times with some of his views, we should respect
>> him for the time and effort he puts into ;  articulating, analyzing, and
>> advocating for a better country and a better world, for ALL of us.
>>
>> My hat is off to Carl and his wonderful wife for being who they are and
>> doing what so few are willing to do in contemporary America.... " walk it
>> like they talk it " !
>>
>> They can't help the way they are, and I am honored to know them !
>>
>> David Johnson
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "C. G. Estabrook" <
>> galliher at illinois.edu>
>> To: "Ricky Baldwin" <baldwinricky at yahoo.com>
>> Cc: "peace-discuss" <peace-discuss at anti-war.net>
>> Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 8:06 PM
>>
>> Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Anti-racism
>>
>>
>>  Ricky Baldwin wrote:
>>> > Carl,
>>> >
>>> > I've been to your house, seen your car in the lot.
>>> > When it comes to the reckoning you get diddly squat.
>>>
>>> Ricky--
>>>
>>
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