tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post4350692900236434500..comments2024-02-14T11:00:03.180-05:00Comments on Tom McLaughlin: White Privilege? Oh Please...Tom McLaughlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-39639540111678139922015-07-11T16:37:38.319-04:002015-07-11T16:37:38.319-04:00Partisanship is an interesting to view from the ce...Partisanship is an interesting to view from the center, or at least close to it. It’s like hearing two, opposing versions of the same event. One marker of partisanship is the tendency to view and process politics with two sets of rules: a more lenient set for the chosen party and a more rigid set for the other party. What partisans justify, ignore or deemphasize in their party’s actions; they condemn, criticize or inflate in the other party’s actions. Another marker of partisanship is the irresistible allure of victimhood; that they and their beliefs are under constant assault from the front and flanks from the other party and their sympathetic institutions. The flip side of that, inevitably, is the idea that the victimhood claimed by the other side is dismissible and utterly without merit. That’s what we have here. The idea that racism and white privilege don’t exist couldn’t be clearer – to some conservatives. However, the oppression and discrimination Christians face in this country couldn’t be more evident, usually to the same conservatives. Depending on who you talk to, either our elections are being hijacked by rampant voter fraud right down to the race for 8th grade class treasurer or voter-ID laws will guarantee all-white elections for as long as we continue to have elections. A partisan says his party advances principles, while the other party pushes an agenda. The President I voted for sometimes relies on the Constitutional Executive Order, while the President for the other party consolidates power and relies on executive fiat to cram legislation down our throats.<br />For Obama’s presidency, Partisan Democrats have laid much of the blame for his failures at the feet of Bush, only to have many Partisan Republicans push back. If he has a Republican successor, how much blame do we supposed Republicans will lay at the feet of Obama and how much will Democrats push back? If the next President is a Republican, their rallying cry will be, “It was fine for Obama to blame everything on Bush, but Heaven forbid we blame anything on Obama.” And the Democratic rallying cry will be, “We couldn’t blame anything on the mess created by Bush, but we’re expected to blame everything on Obama.” What makes this absurdity all the more hilarious is that the partisans I know are convinced they’re the most objective.<br />Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01343163377040116742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-74452640151483671342015-07-09T11:58:58.287-04:002015-07-09T11:58:58.287-04:00While Tom is not nearly clever enough to write sat...While Tom is not nearly clever enough to write satire and his blog shows him to be for real, George's comment above leaves me scratching my head. Poe's Law in effect, for sure!Sami Gaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-57029759780157237682015-07-08T15:16:32.778-04:002015-07-08T15:16:32.778-04:00Posting this with the permission of the author who...Posting this with the permission of the author who sent it via email:<br /><br />Dear Tom,<br />Yes I am white, I am descended from the founding fathers of this country, one arrived on the Mayflower, others fought in the Revolutionary war, and in the Civil war. My ancestors worked hard, studied well, and prospered without help from the government.They were able to prosper in an environment of Christian conscience and minimal government interference. Few would find the challenges they faced "privilege."<br /><br />I was raised in the knowledge that this country's laws were subject to constitutional law and that America was worth fighting for and worthy of those who died defending it. I am totally disheartened and disgusted that the voters of this country have allowed it to sink to the level of the special interest political corruption that we now see coming out of Washington. How can educated thinking people allow this to happed? Perhaps there are just too few of them now. Is this the downfall of democracy, where the ideal of voter rights is not accompanied by the requirement that voters have the knowledge to vote responsibly? How do we regain print and broadcast media and colleges that will inform rather than manipulate?<br /><br />I'm not hopeful for the future of my descendants. There is a growing national acceptance of an anti white prejudice.<br /><br />Sorry, but sometimes I just have to sound off.....don't get me started on the economy!<br /><br />Thank you for another good article. <br />Lin LamphierTom McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-11236422869580976022015-07-07T09:42:32.209-04:002015-07-07T09:42:32.209-04:00My big ticket CV is useless.
My big ticket resume,...My big ticket CV is useless.<br />My big ticket resume, with a verifiable "accomplishments" list evolved into an "other than organized labor" employment guarantee.<br />Some folks seem to believe the opposite. <br />How many "anecdotals", and " Out of context..." must I dismiss before I'm allowed to assign "stereotypical"? <br />Mottos, phrases, and actions are generally a good clue. <br />I have no recourse but to "judge", and "interact" with folks demanding special consideration based solely on their individual merit. <br />The dogwhistles of straight, white, hetero, male, privileged, racist, misogynist, rich, etc., etc., all clumped together with consistently debunked and belied "data" (1 in 5?)and other assumptions, let me know the individual speaker is desperately in need of re-education before consideration of "above the stereotype".<br />Who's to judge? <br />I am. anything else? <br />CaptDMO Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-56020485961872824812015-07-07T07:55:54.818-04:002015-07-07T07:55:54.818-04:00Well, you can read Peggy Macintosh's original ...Well, you can read Peggy Macintosh's original "White Privilege" essay linked above. She wrote it as a Wellesley "Women's Studies" professor back in the eighties. It's required reading at many colleges, universities, and public agencies. Teacher interns working in my classroom were forced to read it and report on their "privilege." When my wife worked at a mental health clinic before going into private practice, she was forced to read it also. It was distributed every year around Martin Luther King Day, but I believe King would have repudiated it if he lived to read it. Check it out and you can discover how privileged you are. Maybe it will make you feel better but I doubt it.<br /><br />My first post on this subject was nine years ago. You can read it here:<br /><br />http://tommclaughlin.blogspot.com/search?q=I+don’t+feel+guilty+being+a+heterosexual+white+guy,+but+evidently+there+are+many+people+who+think+I+should.Tom McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-43573249383297398262015-07-06T18:07:41.771-04:002015-07-06T18:07:41.771-04:00I went to school for four years and racked up tens...I went to school for four years and racked up tens of thousands in debt. During this time I held two jobs and barely lived pay check to pay check. The government has taken more of my money than I care to about during those times. <br /><br />Never once did I take a penny from them.<br /><br />After college I got a full time job. It didn't pay well at first, but after a year or so it finally got up there so I feel comfortable, but I still have to count the pennies I have left after each paycheck. I'm a white, straight male and I can't help but feel I missed out on all that privilege. <br /><br />Can your next article be on how to tap in on this privilege because I could sure use some!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com