White Privilege:- Is there such a thing?

[Laan Yaa Mo]

The writer, Rex Murphy, tackles one of the topics dear to the politically correct set - 'white privilege'. Mr. Murphy takes issues with the term and thinks the 'progressives' are racist for conjuring up this term. What do you think?

http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comme ... -the-march

[bignote1]

As a result of a loving childhood, partly based on Christian values and parents who taught their children to be tolerant of all people I can never recall discriminating against anyone on the basis of colour, religion or ethnic origin.
I have no doubt however, I have unconsciously benefited from a system which promotes white privilege.

[wazza]

Having worked in many Middle Eastern Countries I have been discriminated against.

Be it at shops, airports, taxis, restaurents, immigration lines etc.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

As a youngster, my parents were driving from Toronto to Daytona Beach, Florida. We stopped at a gas station in Georgia when I first encountered 'white privilege'. I was thirsty and was bent over the water fountain when an attendant called out, 'that's for coloureds'. My answer that I was coloured or he couldn't see me, was not the desired one. Subsequently, I learnt that there were separate washrooms for whites and coloureds too.

As the years flowed by, I noted that Catholics and Protestants were treated differently in the Provinces of Quebec and the English-speaking provinces. Also, when I applied for a government job in the 1980s, I was informed that because I was white, born in Canada and male, I was not eligible to apply. This is when Ontario had a socialist government and a silly 'colour code' was applied. Thus, Greeks were white, Turks were not. Japanese were white, Chinese were not. And so on.

[Aardvark]

I never received any handouts for being White ....

[Barney]

White privilege - is there such a thing.

Of course there is not such a thing. Read the attached article and I think the writer answers it quite well.

The phrase appears to be a university academic's quotation, which is baseless.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

555+ Good point.

[jackspratt]

In 1st world western countries, it certainly doesn't hurt to be white, male, tall and good looking.

(O/T and 747man can probably confirm this.)

However, in Thailand, those natural attributes won't necessarily give you any sort of advantage.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

In 1st world western countries, it certainly doesn't hurt to be white, male, tall and good looking. (O/T and 747man can probably confirm this.) quote, jackspratt

747 might believe this, but he would have a difficult time convincing anyone else. As for O/T, he is in a class by himself, which can be disputed by no-one.

[Shado]

After spending three years in Uganda I'd imagine that old timer has an interesting perspective on white privilege.

[bignote1]

In 1st world western countries, it certainly doesn't hurt to be white, male, tall and good looking.

And if you are none of those things ...... being very wealthy, will most probably do it.

[newtovillagelife]

That's like saying Racism....is there such a thing ?
Racism exists and so does White Privilege.

[rick]

Depends on what country you are in. In USA, being white means you are less likely to be shot in 'self defence' by the police, whether you are armed or not. Guess that's a useful privilege.

[Barney]

That's like saying Racism....is there such a thing ?
Racism exists and so does White Privilege.

You are blurring the lines
Racism is definitely not a white only action within society, the same as privilege is not a white only standard in society.

[GT93]

In Thailand there are advantages and disadvantages to being a white farang. An average looking farang doesn't get called a handsome man much back home!

[muppet]

Louis C.K. puts a pretty good spin on the subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CmzT4OV-w0[/youtube]

[bignote1]

I agree mupp. He's my turn to when I'm feeling depressed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7FawbA ... oQ&index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWZkwuI ... oQ&index=2

[JimboPSM]

While there is absolutely no doubt that white privilege exists, there is also no doubt that there are some seriously bigoted and prejudiced people who are in complete and total denial about it; sadly this includes much of the media and far too many of those in positions of power

This article in "Vox" of the recent Waco biker gang shootout covers some of the double standards in operation by much of the media – especially when compared to the reporting of other recent incidents:

Media coverage of gang violence sure looks different when the perpetrators are white

Over the weekend, a shootout between three rival biker gangs at a bar in Waco, Texas, left at least nine gang members dead and 18 others hospitalized with gunshot and stab wounds.

It was a huge, devastating tragedy. The New York Times reported that law enforcement sources called it "the worst violence in the Waco area since the siege on the Branch Davidian compound in 1993 that left 86 people dead."

But if you follow the social media conversations around the incident, you'll see something in addition to the predictable shock, curiosity, and mourning for the victims: there's frustration and anger over how the Waco shootout (whose perpetrators appear to be mostly white) is being talked about — and, specifically, how that contrasts with the coverage and commentary of crimes when the people involved are black.

With the Waco incident, we got just the news — not the racial pathology

Those who are using what happened in Waco to start conversations about stereotypes and media biases against black people aren't complaining about the tenor of this weekend's media coverage. They're saying something a little different: that by being pretty reasonable and sticking to the facts, this coverage highlights the absurdity of the language and analysis that have been deployed in other instances, when the accused criminals are black....

Full article: http://www.vox.com/2015/5/19/8620357/wa ... otout-race

For more background on the 2015 Waco shootout:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Waco_shootout

[Aardvark]

I would have thought the obvious reason would be that nobody started Rioting or Looting, otherwise the reports would have been different ....

[wazza]

@ Aarvark

Memories of Milparera Massacre on Fathers Day in 84?