Is Black Lives Matter a Joke?

[The Kilted Heathen]

Did you know the United States itself was founded as a result of illegal acts?

The difference that I see - and I see this fact used a lot - is that the Boston Tea Party destroyed British tea in protest of the taxes placed on the tea. They didn't burn down Boston.

 

[Kirran]

The difference that I see - and I see this fact used a lot - is that the Boston Tea Party destroyed British tea in protest of the taxes placed on the tea. They didn't burn down Boston.

We can see, however, that BLM has burned down Boston.

 

[columbus]

I am approaching these things in good faith, and have a sincere desire to fulfill my duty in being as aware of the problems facing us as a society as I can be, so as to know how I can play my part in our progression.

Who is "us"?
I have lived in the USA for almost 60 years. I remember Selma. I have been a board member of the local branch of the NAACP. I had to work to get over racism, here where I live.

Who is this "us" you are referring to?
White people? Are you generalizing here? What?

I don't doubt that you are approaching this in good faith. But I don't think you are approaching this from an informed perspective because you live in a dramatically different culture.
Tom

 

[Kirran]

Who is "us"?
I have lived in the USA for almost 60 years. I remember Selma. I have been a board member of the local branch of the NAACP. I had to work to get over racism, here where I live.

Who is this "us" you are referring to?
White people? Are you generalizing here? What?

I don't doubt that you are approaching this in good faith. But I don't think you are approaching this from an informed perspective because you live in a dramatically different culture.
Tom

I mean humans. And I'm not talking about the USA, I haven't even been there (short of a couple layovers in Atlanta airport).

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

The difference that I see - and I see this fact used a lot - is that the Boston Tea Party destroyed British tea in protest of the taxes placed on the tea. They didn't burn down Boston.

And? Destruction of property is destruction of property. Are you saying you don't mind people destroying businesses as long as it doesn't affect your local community or that it's okay when the owners of said property are physically far-removed from its loss?

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

And? Destruction of property is destruction of property. Are you saying you don't mind people destroying businesses as long as it doesn't affect your local community or that it's okay when the owners of said property are physically far-removed from its loss?

Not quite, I'm just saying that paralleling the Boston Tea Party and actions of BLM isn't an equal comparison. On the one hand, the BTP was a revolt against the British Crown. They destroyed British property, and went to war against Britain.

BLM, on the other hand, opposes anything from social injustice to white people in general. They demonstrate this by... burning down their own cities, destroying property of people who they have no clue who it belongs to, looting local stores, assaulting white people (relevant to some objections, but racist in an of itself - you can't effectively fight racism with racism).

The BTP had a specific objection, and effectively strove towards that objection. BLM has a scattered objection, upholds proven falsehoods, and does not effectively strive towards a specific objection. The rational overwhelmingly seems to be "agree with and excuse us or you're a racist".

Also Kirran I saw a post of yours earlier that I'm getting back to when I can today.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

You seem to focus entirely on legal setbacks, and not on societal sentiments which are where privilege generally manifests.

I actually mentioned them quite a bit. What some are willing to call "privileges", I identify more as the presence of racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. The only time that I "benefit" from being white, male, or straight is in the presence of such social cancers - and even then, I would not say that I benefit from them. Rather, I don't suffer for them.

Statistically, it has been shown very clearly that white people are more likely to get interviews, will more easily get a job, are less stereotyped in social interactions etc,

I really don't trust statistics anymore, and from my own experiences this has never been the case for me. I was turned down for an interview, they "weren't hiring", and then the very next day one of my co-workers (a black female, for the record) was hired even though I know for a fact that she was less qualified for the job that we both sought.

Anymore, whites are stereotyped just as much in social interactions. It's been assumed that just because I'm white, I'm successful, that I've got a good job--even down to my ideologies, religion, and political support. I've been refused help that I need, because "I'm white, I don't need assistance." I've even had it assumed that I'm a racist, just because I'm white (a topic of criticism with BLM.)

Men talk more in interactions, they rise in rank in most corporate settings more easily etc.

Not really. Any more there are so many things that men can't talk about (and not things that are sexist), or where their opinion is considered less significant. I've even seen men get brow-beaten when trying to correct a mistake because they we're "mansplaining". If anything, I've found myself talking less in many interactions, because I can't even point out the truth without being socially ostracized - because I'm a man. Women have said things that I've been saying for years, and it's received with much more validity and praise because a woman said it.

As for advancement, that has also not been my experience and observation. When it is, I would very much argue that it's - again - a matter of wealth, rather than sex. It has also been pointed out and shown that certain degrees (i.e. Social Justice, Women's Studies, etc) are practically useless in the business world. With that in mind it's less about privilege, and more to do with people's choices in their education setting them back.

To all my examples, it can be argued "Well, that's you." But my point is that if these things exist as privileges, then I should have them and benefit from them. But I don't. I don't even benefit from Band-Aids matching my skin tone (yes, I was told that was an example of white privilege).

And obviously ableism isn't saying you should let people in wheelchairs be lumberjacks, do you really think that's what it's about?

Absolutely not; I know that it is also discrimination and prejudice based on disability. With this one, however, I disagree with calling it "able-bodied privilege" in that disabilities are scientifically and factually variations or damages from the biological norm. I am not privileged by not being disabled, I am simply not disabled.

I would also like to note again, though, that none of this is me saying that there should not be programs to help minorities and disabled people. I don't advocate any of the social cancers out there. I only disagree with and oppose the notion of privilege.

 

[Sunstone]

Black Lives Matter is not a joke. It is instead closer to a tragedy that such a movement, however imperfect, is even needed to begin with.

 

[Revoltingest]

BLM is in the news....
Black Lives Matter co-founder appears to label white people ‘defects’

“Whiteness is not humxness,” the statement begins. “infact, white skin is sub-humxn.” The post goes on to present a genetics-based argument centred on melanin and enzyme.

“White ppl are recessive genetic defects. this is factual,” the post reads towards the end. “white ppl need white supremacy as a mechanism to protect their survival as a people because all they can do is produce themselves. black ppl simply through their dominant genes can literally wipe out the white race if we had the power to.”

 

[Kilgore Trout]

BLM is in the news....
Black Lives Matter co-founder appears to label white people ‘defects’

This would explain the resistance to the notion that all lives matter.

 

[Shad]

BLM is in the news....
Black Lives Matter co-founder appears to label white people ‘defects’

Nation of Islam rhetoric.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Not quite, I'm just saying that paralleling the Boston Tea Party and actions of BLM isn't an equal comparison. On the one hand, the BTP was a revolt against the British Crown. They destroyed British property, and went to war against Britain.

BLM, on the other hand, opposes anything from social injustice to white people in general. They demonstrate this by... burning down their own cities, destroying property of people who they have no clue who it belongs to, looting local stores, assaulting white people (relevant to some objections, but racist in an of itself - you can't effectively fight racism with racism).

The tea at the Boston Tea Party belonged to the East India Company, which had close ties to the British government, but was still a private corporation with shareholders.

...and their tactic of dressing up as Native Americans in order to shift blame to them was pretty racist, IMO.

 

[Revoltingest]

In the news.....
U2 cancels its St Louis concert after Stockley protests | Daily Mail Online
Sounds like BLM members' anger about the verdict justifies victimizing other people.

 

[Spiderman]

That is why it's so difficult to carry on a conversation about the subject. Anybody who disagrees with BLM and their supporters is automatically deemed a racist.
I believe that BLM will result in more violent deaths of young black men. But I can hardly begin to explain why before I get dismissed as a racist.
Tom

I'm guessing you are correct

 

[Lyndon]

In the news.....
U2 cancels its St Louis concert after Stockley protests | Daily Mail Online
Sounds like BLM members' anger about the verdict justifies victimizing other people.

U2 is victimizing people by not playing, give me a break, I would think they're victimizing people BY playing!!

 

[Revoltingest]

U2 is victimizing people by not playing, give me a break, I would think they're victimizing people BY playing!!

I don't know what they sound like.
To me, a U2 is a spy plane.

 

[columbus]

I don't know what they sound like.
To me, a U2 is a spy plane.

You probably do. "Joshua Tree" and such. Bono is their lead. I like some of their stuff a lot.
What Lyndon seems not to grasp is that BLM forced the cancellation due to security concerns.
Tom

 

[Revoltingest]

You probably do. "Joshua Tree" and such. Bono is their lead. I like some of their stuff a lot.

I know no song called "Joshua Tree".
To me it's a....

I avoid modern popular music.
What little of it intrudes into my world sounds like crap.

 

[BSM1]

U2 is victimizing people by not playing, give me a break, I would think they're victimizing people BY playing!!

Sacrilege!

 

[BSM1]

I know no song called "Joshua Tree".
To me it's a....

I avoid modern popular music.
What little of it intrudes into my world sounds like crap.

Their best album, IMHO.

Re: Where The Streets Have No Name, Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking for, et al.