I disagree. I don't think anyone has the obligation to apologize for our white privilege. Instead, we should be using said privilege to fight against oppression. It can be a good tool, not something that you must repent for.

I haven't seen many POC leaders suggesting that privilege is something to apologize for. Frankly, half the people on these forums don't think such a concept even exists, so I would strongly suggest that this line of rhetoric is not politically expedient. My goal at this point is to convince some people that systemic racism is a thing and on certain policies to make some problems better. Your rhetoric might be effective in a Utopian world, but we aren't there yet.

His "rhetoric" is dangerous because it offends and causes unnecessarily fear among some and creates the kind of backlash the gave us Trump over HRC. It was exactly the same fear the made so many unable to vote HRC.

But I don't expect they's/them to get that.
They/them's don't live in reality. You said it yourself, they live in some utopia that doesn't really exist.
Never has. Never will.
I think they/them should get a dog.
Caring for a dog helps with figuring out reality.
Dogs KNOW real.

We need more leftist unity.

I get what you are saying. And I see why your approach might work better on a sports website such as this. Say what you want about reddit, but we (I'm a part time mod over there) have some really progressive subreddits, so I tend to forget that I have to tone it down when I head out into Trump country. That being said, in my personal opinion, not acknowledging AND apologizing for white privilege is a slippery slope to a kind of white supremacism (even if it's only internalized and repressed). I will never pretend like I am not ashamed of what my ancestors have done.

Technically, my ancestors didn't enact slavery (I'm Jewish, my great grandmother had to flee Hungary to avoid the Holocaust, where a lot of my extended family died). I am very white passing though, so I'm white. Even if your ancestors were responsible, I don't think that you have a responsibility to apologize on their behalf. Like I said, a better approach is probably to use your privilege in a positive manner.

Posted by coreander on 6/9/2020 12:27:00 PM (view original):
I get what you are saying. And I see why your approach might work better on a sports website such as this. Say what you want about reddit, but we (I'm a part time mod over there) have some really progressive subreddits, so I tend to forget that I have to tone it down when I head out into Trump country. That being said, in my personal opinion, not acknowledging AND apologizing for white privilege is a slippery slope to a kind of white supremacism (even if it's only internalized and repressed). I will never pretend like I am not ashamed of what my ancestors have done.

Oh my god .You are the exact kind of person that drove me from the Democratic Party.

who really cares (other than you) who or what drove you from the democratic party? Not me.

Their opinions are not very popular in the Party. Bernie did lose the nomination, after all.

I kinda figured this would happen, though.

Posted by coreander on 6/9/2020 11:59:00 AM (view original):

Posted by tangplay on 6/9/2020 11:52:00 AM (view original):

Posted by strikeout26 on 6/9/2020 6:33:00 AM (view original):
I ultimately don’t have an issue if people want to know. I personally would not do it. I think a lot of people are doing it to “apologize for their white privilege.” I guess I missed the day when they were handing that out out. There are other ways to show solidarity, but do whatever warms your heart

Mainly, I posted the article because I thought it was cool that my town of 1500 people made a major news network. I see that cop all the time.

I don't think anyone is doing it to "apologize for white privilege", and quite frankly that was a blatant strawman of my argument.

Apologizing for your white privilege is a necessary first step, but it is very important to remember that it is only a first step. Words without action are worthless. We can begin to dismantle a broken and unfair system.

Told you, Tang. Not a straw man at all. Coreander literally just said that apologizing for white privilege is a necessary first step. Don’t be blind to reality. He just inadvertently refuted you in the next post.

If you or anyone else wants to apologize for something that they are not responsible for, have at it, but I will not be doing it. This doesn’t mean that I don’t support most of their cause, but I’m not going to accept guilt for being born. That’s just stupid.

Never mind, Tang. I apologize. I posted before reading your responses. It still proves my point though that there are people apologizing for being born.

It still is a strawman. Coreander isn't suggesting that the act of kneeling is done to apologize for white privilege. Just that white people should do it. Kneeling is still, by and large, a sign of solidarity.

Nope. There videos of people kneeling in front of black people apologizing. It may be a small minority, but it definitely happens.

Sure, I won't deny that. I added in the qualifer, "by and large" for a reason.

"Never mind, Tang. I apologize. I posted before reading your responses. It still proves my point though that there are people apologizing for being born."

And ashamed of their reality. It's crazy IMO.

I hate what my people AND my Country And the US Army and Gov't DID to the Indian population of this land.
It WAS their land.
We took it.
not by fair means.

But I didn't. I now KNOW better. I would not stay silent IF I saw it happen again.
All I can do is let my red brothers and sisters know that I do know how wrong and unfair, and yes, stupid it was.
My people were the fools, in any language, use whatever term you want.

My apology would mean nothing, instead I make sure they know I stand with them, now.
My voice will not be used to oppress them, my words will be used to celebrate their courage and individuality as a people.
I say to My Gov't........... Honor your word, Honor the Treaties and my Gov't's commitments and promises.
Stop speaking with that forked tongue.

The only part about my post that may have been misleading was the “a lot of people” part, but that was also prefaced by “I think”. Where it gets tough for anyone to know truly, is that the media and social media sensationalize everything. They are more inclined to air Coreander and RSP’s views than they are Tang, Bob, or Wylie’s views. It sells better. It’s more radical. I’m not talking about right-wing media either. I don’t watch Fox News. Honestly, I couldn’t tell much about what they talk about. I’m talking about the Maddow’s and Don Lemons. I listen to way more left wing media simply because I can’t refute the left if I don’t know what they believe.