3 ms·

I've given this some thought before. I think it's born from guilt, you know, because of the messed up history they had. They think that if they change the branc

by ghusto 4y ago

I've given this some thought before. I think it's born from guilt, you know, because of the messed up history they had. They think that if they change the branch names from master to main, everything's fine now. The irony is that I live in a country where there was also some _very_ messed up history, and the reason things _are_ alright now, is because they don't keep dragging that shit up. Everybody acknowledges that it was unacceptable bullshit, and moved on. The key difference is acknowledging and facing what your ancestors did, and _then_ moving on.

t-3 4y ago
The really strange part is that the majority of Americans have no historical connection to that messed up past at all. The group of people whose ancestors were even in the country while slavery was legal or women couldn't vote or before the Civil Rights movement is getting smaller and smaller every year.
- ParetoOptimal 4y ago
  > The really strange part is that the majority of Americans have no historical connection to that messed up past at all. The legacy of all of it is still alive and white americans still benefit from the oppression at the expense of minorities. Essentially, it was never made right to the benefit of modern white americans... therefore the guilt they feel is founded because at some level they see the benefits of their privilege even if they deny it out loud. > The group of people whose ancestors were even in the country while slavery was legal or women couldn't vote or before the Civil Rights movement is getting smaller and smaller every year. Did you know the majority of black Americans couldn't get home loans until about 1990? Even then it was very difficult. Think about if your great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents all only lived in apartments or didn't have as secure of a housing situation. What effect might that have on someones upbringing?
  - t-3 4y ago
    > white americans still benefit from the oppression at the expense of minorities. No, whites do not benefit from oppression, oppression harms the oppressed. Rich oppressors may benefit, but they are by no means all, or even a significant population group. The vast majority of Americans are not involved in perpetuating or perpetrating oppression, discrimination, or injustice. Those that are responsible are a small affluent layer that rules our oligarchical society. Spreading the blame to a huge group, which is not even an ethnic group or nationality, but simply a skin color, is ridiculous and benefits only the powerful few. Racializing political and social discourse is a dialectical trap designed to distract from real solutions to societal problems, and focus people's anger on the 'other'.

by ghusto 4y ago

t-3 4y ago

The really strange part is that the majority of Americans have no historical connection to that messed up past at all. The group of people whose ancestors were even in the country while slavery was legal or women couldn't vote or before the Civil Rights movement is getting smaller and smaller every year.

ParetoOptimal 4y ago
> The really strange part is that the majority of Americans have no historical connection to that messed up past at all. The legacy of all of it is still alive and white americans still benefit from the oppression at the expense of minorities. Essentially, it was never made right to the benefit of modern white americans... therefore the guilt they feel is founded because at some level they see the benefits of their privilege even if they deny it out loud. > The group of people whose ancestors were even in the country while slavery was legal or women couldn't vote or before the Civil Rights movement is getting smaller and smaller every year. Did you know the majority of black Americans couldn't get home loans until about 1990? Even then it was very difficult. Think about if your great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents all only lived in apartments or didn't have as secure of a housing situation. What effect might that have on someones upbringing?
- t-3 4y ago
  > white americans still benefit from the oppression at the expense of minorities. No, whites do not benefit from oppression, oppression harms the oppressed. Rich oppressors may benefit, but they are by no means all, or even a significant population group. The vast majority of Americans are not involved in perpetuating or perpetrating oppression, discrimination, or injustice. Those that are responsible are a small affluent layer that rules our oligarchical society. Spreading the blame to a huge group, which is not even an ethnic group or nationality, but simply a skin color, is ridiculous and benefits only the powerful few. Racializing political and social discourse is a dialectical trap designed to distract from real solutions to societal problems, and focus people's anger on the 'other'.