Here's what they are teaching our kids in Illinois public schools

[olive03]

Originally Posted by MSchemist80

She attributes every negative interaction with others to racism when the majority of people deal with and treat people the same regardless of their sex, race ethnicity.

Welcome to 2021.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by Kmanshouse

I'm married to a very liberal Asian woman. During the summer of 2020 she confronted me on a few things, letting me know that I am not even aware of the privilege I have. I challenged her on that and we had an interesting discussion.

The gist of it was that I never even have to think about what I look like in my interactions with others. That I never have to worry about what an employer or a store clerk, etc. etc. is thinking about my appearance/race. Being white is the default/"normal" and thus it's not really a part of my day.

It was an interesting take. And it's true - I never think about it, and it's not a stresser in my life.

She explained that was what white privilege was...not that white people are given explicit advantages or that minorities don't have the ability to be successful. But that for them, it's part of the equation, whereas for me it is not.

Does your wife acknowledge that your appearance would attract attention/curiosity in a majority Asian country? Sometimes, I worry that "progressive" Americans live in a naive little bubble where things are dubbed nefarious and institutionally discriminatory when they're just a largely-benign function of human nature.

This is a predominately white/Euro-descended country. The vast majority of the people of color are admixed and have European names and western religion, as well. It is not a conspiracy that being white is the default or normal when whites are by far the largest cohort.

[Master Jay]

olive03, thank you for sharing a nice, personal message.

As far as your philosophy on equality goes, you just go ahead and profess it proudly. Master Jay will have your back!

I am a mixture of Mexican and Croatian. I do not think: "I wonder how people will see/treat me for looking like THIS when I walk through Lincoln Square / Chinatown / Pilsen / Devon Avenue.... Those are all bery different ethnic/ethnic looking neighborhoods. Ok, I get it.

I can hope I'll encounter people under my philosophy of giving it a chance to interact with me before they try to assume they know me by my appearance.

And if they DO: great! We are in for some potentially wonderful experiences.

And if they do NOT: I have 2 feet. I can keep walking past them. Or kick them and teach them a lesson in humility

You all know me! I will always choose the former...That said, will you please forgive my racist and insensitive self??

[G in MP]

Socio-economically, taller people fare better in all sorts of ways over short people. Tall people are afforded more privileges. Also, attractive people are afforded privileges over less attractive people. Soooo...short, ugly people should be classified as POC. Wheeee, down the rabbit hole we go!

[Master Jay]

G in MP,

I was getting concerned when I read your post, given that I am 5'6".

But.. thank... GOODNESS that I am so very good looking!

So, I am going to fare alright!!!

[G in MP]

Originally Posted by Master Jay

G in MP,

I was getting concerned when I read your post, given that I am 5'6".

But.. thank... GOODNESS that I am so very good looking!

So, I am going to fare alright!!!

See, I'm 5'7", I've got an inch privilege on you! But I'm only ok looking though, so I guess you being a beautiful man balances things out between us.

[Master Jay]

G in MP, good morning,

This further adds to my philosophy to not judge on the outside (so thank you for this discussion, because it reminds me that we need to add things like HEIGHT and LOOKS to the list of what to NOT judge someone on).

To our esteemed colleague, Kmanshouse, I am not taking out of the equation that your wife is Asian.... You see, I was married to a German-American woman... And I hope you understand why for ME, it is never about: Asian, German-American, etc.

What matters is that I was married to a horrible PERSON, and you are happily married to a wonderful PERSON ( I may deduce).

And I always celebrate happily married couples, because I was not; and my children had to grow up for a while in that kind of household!

So I wish you and wife happiness!

[G in MP]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

Does your wife acknowledge that your appearance would attract attention/curiosity in a majority Asian country? Sometimes, I worry that "progressive" Americans live in a naive little bubble where things are dubbed nefarious and institutionally discriminatory when they're just a largely-benign function of human nature.

This is a predominately white/Euro-descended country. The vast majority of the people of color are admixed and have European names and western religion, as well. It is not a conspiracy that being white is the default or normal when whites are by far the largest cohort.

Oh, one need not travel to distant locales. Kman could just drop off his wife at one of the many Chicago neighborhoods that's predominantly not white, have her spend a day exploring settings that are free from white privilege, see if she likes that any better.