It's a really multi-leveled problem, and it's really hard. I'm in your boat as to my background/heritage/place in the world. And I too find it frustrating to be told on the one hand "We need more voices for the minorities and oppressed in the world!" and on the other "You're not enough of a minority or oppressed, so you don't get to speak on their behalf!" Well, what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to contribute to the solution if my every contribution is shot down by "Yes, but this isn't YOUR narrative, so shut up"? This only serves to drive people further apart.
But I don't know what the solution IS, because like I said, I DO descend from the oppressors, and so maybe even my attempts to see from the other side really are offensive. But then, what CAN I do about it? I'm not just going to write it off as "oh well, not my story, so I'm not even going to try, I'll just accept my heritage and continue the pattern" OR "oh woe is me, I am a wretch and can never do better and therefore will wallow in my oppressor-heritage misery." There has GOT to be a better way.
Personally, I believe the world needs kind idealists. Not "watch the world burn because I'm sticking to my principles" idealists ("The first thing a principle does," says Lord Peter Wimsey, "is kill somebody.") but "let's work together to make the world a better place, even if that sometimes means letting go of our legitimate grievances and reaching out to somebody we don't have anything in common with." But there again, am I being insensitive because I don't, really, have that many legitimate grievances? I DON'T KNOW.
This was a very long comment to basically say I'm as clueless as you are.
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chiming
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Date: 2014-02-09 08:34 pm (UTC)From:But I don't know what the solution IS, because like I said, I DO descend from the oppressors, and so maybe even my attempts to see from the other side really are offensive. But then, what CAN I do about it? I'm not just going to write it off as "oh well, not my story, so I'm not even going to try, I'll just accept my heritage and continue the pattern" OR "oh woe is me, I am a wretch and can never do better and therefore will wallow in my oppressor-heritage misery." There has GOT to be a better way.
Personally, I believe the world needs kind idealists. Not "watch the world burn because I'm sticking to my principles" idealists ("The first thing a principle does," says Lord Peter Wimsey, "is kill somebody.") but "let's work together to make the world a better place, even if that sometimes means letting go of our legitimate grievances and reaching out to somebody we don't have anything in common with." But there again, am I being insensitive because I don't, really, have that many legitimate grievances? I DON'T KNOW.
This was a very long comment to basically say I'm as clueless as you are.