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April 17, 2003

Don't Step in the Privilege

OK, that's it - we're officially tired of the blatant mischaracterizations that are offered up about us here at the WWR. The spark for this one off post was a gem from Jared claiming that:

...the WWR is starting to sound like a bunch of juvenile frat boys lately. i mean, it's always had the ring of privileged white boys to it, but now when i visit i feel like i'm behind some jackhole with a "no fat chicks" bumper sticker. quite impressive.

Sure, we can exhibit youthful exuberance - and sure, Laurence pushed some buttons with his last post (but that is what Laurence does, get used to it). But, let's visit this "privileged white boys" bullshit that Jared is offering up.

That's right, obviously the only people who might respect the values of liberty and property, who might see something admirable in self-reliance and responsibility for oneself and one's friends, who might demand that family and friends are more important than societal caretaking could ONLY be a bunch of privileged white boys.

To that, sadly, we say: BULL-FUCKING-SHIT (that's an example of "tmesis," a word we learned in our privileged white boy schools)

FYI, this is pretty much a repeat of a comment we left for dear, oppressed Jared on her own blog, modified here and there to expound upon certain points. Enjoy - for these are your hosts.

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Andy comes from a very middle class upbringing. His father came from a New England Catholic family with eight kids - ranging from the successful to the not-so-successful. His dad was a military man, giving 28 years of his life to the service of his country (a foreign concept perhaps, but bear with me). In that time, he married a divorcee from South Carolina, the daughter of a city bus driver and a housewife. Oh, lord, you can smell the privilege from here!

As Andy's father busted his ass for those 28 years, he increased his rank and his responsibility, continually providing his wife and three sons with the best life he could. In the end, he ended up with a doctor, a professor, and a management consultant - all of whom got there on their own merits, with scholarships and sacrifice.

Speaking only for myself, I can say, hoo boy was I privileged - that's why rather than go to Duke or Johns Hopkins (offers from both, but I'd have to pay!), I attended a state university on a scholarship (based on GPA - that whole ugly merit idea), why I attended public schools all my life, why I had a job in high school, etc - yep, just a silver platter saying "take what you like, privileged white boy!" - didn't have to work for a bit of it! Nope not me!

You think I've had it handed to me? You think I didn't work for where I am? You couldn't be more wrong.

Now ... Tom, dear old Tom? Tom did not come from a privileged background at all. His parents still live in a neighborhood on the decline for the last decade, one that is rapidly becoming a ghetto. His family never had any money...he went to public schools, and when he graduated, he paid EVERY SINGLE CENT of his own tuition for college, sometimes working three (count 'em, THREE, at one time: he was waiting tables, tending bar, and working as a lab assistant just to pay for books) jobs to stay in school. He has lived in places overrun with rodents and illegal immigrants, and has gone for days being so broke he had nothing to eat.

All of this is without even getting into Jon's fucked up, growing up gay, rural Alabama lifestyle. But that would just cause you more headaches than it's worth - it might cause you to reconsider your narrow-minded view of just who can respect hard work and its rewards, but I doubt that.

All of us have made something quite different from the tapestry of our lives - the main thing is that we've all worked pretty fucking hard to get to places where we are happy and comfortable with them. And we demand the same of others. And it's a shame that you don't demand the same.

Jared - you're obviously bright and capable - that's good, very good. It'd be even better if you realized the value that had and applied it to improving things, rather than trying to drag everyone else down to the lowest common denominator. On a personal level, I know you give a lot of yourself, and that is beautiful and admirable and should be encouraged - on a political level, you support failed philosophies that will do nothing but swell the ranks of those you hope to lift up.

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So, the next time anyone feels compelled to make some idiotic assumption about us, just visit this post - cut and paste - and shut the hell up.

Title of post changed to be kinder and gentler