But that's the thing -- it isn't ethnicity that is being celebrated. It is race. After all, we don't check our ethnicity on the census or other forms. They don't list our ethnicity on our birth certificate. And there are plenty of black people who were born in Ireland and Germany and England -- that doesn't automatically make them white because most people in those countries are white. So a black Irish person could wear both shirts -- but I'd still be limited to only the Irish one because, hey, saying white girls rock is inherently racist.
Fun fact about the census. Middle Easterners are considered white.
But I'll humor you. Maybe it really isn't fair that you can't say that you're proud of being white. But you know who should blame for that? Groups that tied up the concept of "white pride" with racism. It isn't the fault of marginalized groups. It's the fault of people who want to
abuse marginalized groups.
And I'm going to state this again because you completely ignored it.
The reason it's okay to celebrate black pride is that black people in Western countries, especially the ones in America, have no identity outside of their skin color because their ancestors were sld as slaves and they faced years of oppression, even when "freed". If you're of European heritage, you have a long history you can be proud of; they do not. So it's perfectly fair.
And celebrating homosexuality/bisexuality should be no different than celebrating heterosexuality. If there is nothing wrong with a gay pride parade, there is nothing wrong with a straight pride parade.
Pride parades were originally a protest, to demand equality. These days, they are more used to celebrate the things queer people have done throughout history. What would a straight pride parade even be about?
If I want to celebrate what straight people have done, how is that different?
Since straight, cis-bodied individuals make up the vast majority of humanity. History, baring some figures from antiquity, was made by people just like you and me. I could throw a dart at a random selection of historical events and have something I could easily celebrate.
I actually don't want to have any parades themed around sexuality. I think that falls under the TMI umbrella, but if people want to do that -- that's fine. I'll stay home and out of the way while they do their thing.
And complain about it on the internet, apparently.
I mean, what is the difference between an all black sorority or an all white sorority? Both exclude people based on race. I wouldn't want to be a member of a group that would exclude based on race.
Most of the black sororities and fraternities exist because people of color were banned from others. 'cause you know, racist people didn't want them around. It's it pointless today? Probably. But again, it was sort of unfair for blacks to be barred... So what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
I just wonder why it is okay for some people to practice racial discrimination but not okay for others. It is the hypocrisy that I hate. Not that I am secretly a white supremacist who doesn't want black people around. The answer to racial inequality isn't to go off and to make your own groups -- it is for the existing groups to be made inclusive of and representative of everyone. When we break off into our own little groups, we very seldom have spaces and opportunities to have real dialogue and find common ground. We stay divided rather than progress.
You know what? I'll agree with this. It's something that we need to do. But I'm also aware that there are some people who aren't ready for dialogue because of how they were marginalized. As a white person, I don't have a right to tell a black person to buck up and work with me. As heteroromantic person who's not bothered by their body, I don't have the right to tell a LGBT person the same. I understand that people need space and time to heal.
It isn't that I am embittered or think that people celebrating their sexuality is a bad thing -- I just find the double standard to be confusing. I guess the concept that only a minority is allowed to express pride in who they are just rubs me the wrong way. You can be proud of who you are without wanting to oppress anyone else.
Right. But here's a serious question that I want you to answer me... What does "white pride" offer you that ethnic pride doesn't? What does straight pride offer you?
And I find it sad that all we seem to be doing is working to get different labels on equal footing instead of moving towards a community where labels need not be applied at all. I don't celebrate my ethnicity because I don't find it to be important.
Yet you're arguing that you should be able to have white/straight pride?
I am an American. Wherever my ancestors came from doesn't really play a part in how I choose to live my life today. I'm not ashamed of my ancestry ... it just doesn't trump my nationality or the fact that I am just a human being. used to buy into the identity politics ... but I think that they actually serve to keep us divided rather than moving us forward towards inclusion and equality
.
Again, in theory, I can agree with you but I might have a different perspective; I've also seen idenity politics lead people to questioning other parts of the system. They might start off with gay pride... And they end up becoming a queer anarchist. Indenity isn't the issue; it's the use of indenity as a commodenity.
I guess I still hope that someday it won't matter what your label is. All that matters is that you are a human being and that you deserve equal treatment simply because you are a human being. Grouping ourselves under these labels isn't getting us any closer to that.
Agreed, there. I just think personally, we're a little far from that.