Oddbean new post about | logout
▲ ▼
bostonwine | 2 months ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag 
 I do agree that breaking down false barriers between individuals is necessary, by the way. But to do so without acknowledgment of the real differences in lived experience that relate to different appearances would be inauthentic, incomplete, and undermining of the beautiful and  *very real* opportunity to deeply recognize and honor the humanity in each person. My two sats.
▲ ▼
TheGuySwann | 2 months ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag +1 
 honoring the humanity is each person is the exact opposite of equating their situation, their skills, their beliefs, or their opportunity with their race or sex.
▲ ▼
befire | 2 months ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag 
 it depends who the audience is.  one way of speaking doesn’t fit all.

and mentioning stuff in one context & particular audience situation is not the same as equating the whole being of someone to those things mentioned.

imho, you’re right too that in many scenarios, talking about race, gender, or whatever is counterproductive.

totally true that in many cases it’s gone way too far with classifying people’s “traits” or “characteristics” or whatever.

it’s like, “ser, this is a wendy’s.”
▲ ▼
bostonwine | 1 months ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag 
 I agree with you entirely, and I’m decidedly *not* equating on’s character with one’s physical body.

What I’m saying is, people in certain bodies experience significantly more abuse and marginalization in a society than people in other bodies. That doesn’t define who they are, or what they’re like or are capable of. Full stop.

It is a fact of this world that an inordinately outsized share of the total discrimination and violence is shouldered by specific minority groups. Recognizing this truth, and by extension recognizing that I have absolutely no real idea what it would be like to experience life through that lens, because my physical incarnation simply isn’t one of the usual recipients of racism. That’s the simple meaning of racial privilege, and it’s purpose is not to shame or put down someone who experiences that privilege/freedom from oppression. Recognizing it just means that I can honor the truth of my own and others’ experience, and live with more truth and love as a result. Not turn away from it because some things are hard, and not try to explain it away for fear of how one will be received.

In my experience, it’s only when our movement comes from a place of truth and honesty, can we actually honor and love one another. 

Acknowledging difficult truths doesn’t mean placing circumstances and physical traits above or before interpersonal communion; rather it creates the space and freedom to move into deeper states of relation, connection, presence, understanding, compassion, and joy.

It’s sort of like how, if you “push away” or repress a painful experience, it doesn’t actually go away, and will actually continue to be a part of your consciousness - but it controls you. It’s only when you acknowledge, feel, and honor that pain do you become bigger than it, and free from the suffering associated to it.