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I don't agree with the sentiment that those who are afraid of speaking up are supporting bigotry or inequality. I hope my comment doesn't imply that I would sup

by saboot 12y ago

I don't agree with the sentiment that those who are afraid of speaking up are supporting bigotry or inequality. I hope my comment doesn't imply that I would support those things, or belong to those with 'the old opinions'.

wpietri 12y ago
I'm sure you don't want to support those things. I don't either. But I expect we both accidentally do. Let's look at the previous example to gay marriage, interracial marriage: http://www.gallup.com/poll/149390/record-high-approve-black-white-marriages.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/149390/record-high-approve-black-... For a long time, it was the near-universal opinion that it was wrong. Now it's the near-universal opinion that it is fine. When opposition was the dominant opinion, nobody thought that was supporting bigotry and inequality. Then there was a long period where one side believed it was bigotry and one side didn't. Now everybody sees it as bigotry. For a long time, opponents of interracial marriage were comfortable sharing their views. Supporters were afraid of speaking up. Eventually supporters started speaking up energetically. Opponents did the same: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little_Rock_integration_protest.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little_Rock_integrati... Eventually, the tide turned. Opponents generally didn't lose their opinions, but they became afraid to speak up because of possible social consequences. And eventually a generation grew up that doesn't even question the topic. Why does this matter? Well, either A) all racism, sexism, etc, have now been eliminated from society in this manner, or B) most of us harbor some bigoted, erroneous views that we haven't collectively recognized as wrong. I believe it's the latter. That's certainly been my personal experience as I've come to learn about these topics.

by saboot 12y ago

wpietri 12y ago

I'm sure you don't want to support those things. I don't either. But I expect we both accidentally do. Let's look at the previous example to gay marriage, interracial marriage: http://www.gallup.com/poll/149390/record-high-approve-black-white-marriages.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/149390/record-high-approve-black-... For a long time, it was the near-universal opinion that it was wrong. Now it's the near-universal opinion that it is fine. When opposition was the dominant opinion, nobody thought that was supporting bigotry and inequality. Then there was a long period where one side believed it was bigotry and one side didn't. Now everybody sees it as bigotry. For a long time, opponents of interracial marriage were comfortable sharing their views. Supporters were afraid of speaking up. Eventually supporters started speaking up energetically. Opponents did the same: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little_Rock_integration_protest.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little_Rock_integrati... Eventually, the tide turned. Opponents generally didn't lose their opinions, but they became afraid to speak up because of possible social consequences. And eventually a generation grew up that doesn't even question the topic. Why does this matter? Well, either A) all racism, sexism, etc, have now been eliminated from society in this manner, or B) most of us harbor some bigoted, erroneous views that we haven't collectively recognized as wrong. I believe it's the latter. That's certainly been my personal experience as I've come to learn about these topics.