#majority privilege

[firstoccupier]

American Values Got Mugged in the 80s

🗽 You want to talk American values? Try this: We used to have each other’s backs. Unions, shared sacrifice, a GI Bill that actually meant something. But Reagan came in like a used car salesman with a chainsaw, sold us “freedom” while handing the keys to Wall Street. Now we live in the land of ATM America—where we bankroll the planet, police the world, and can’t even afford insulin. Meanwhile,…

American Values Got Mugged in the 80s

[lapassantjuriste]

The whole Sonu Nigam Episode.

I’m supposed to be working right now, but some things need to be said. 

I’m not a twitter person so I didn’t get to hear about this until yesterday. Quite Honestly as stupid as his sentiments are its not what really made me want to make this post. 

I went on Facebook this morning and a friend had posted something about how minorities were allowed to say things about crackers at Diwali and not throwing Ganesh idols in the sea at Ganesh Chaturthi, but if a Hindu talked about a minority everyone lost their minds, and I honestly saw red for a bit. Because its sad to see educated and worldly people being so unaware of their Majority Privilege.  

Take mister Nigam for example, he’s suddenly gotten up from his sleep (quite literally) and decided to talk about the use of loudspeakers for religious purposes. NOT because its effecting he community at large but because he’s loosing precious sleep! And while he may say he’ll support a ban on loudspeakers for all communities, come Ganesh Chaturthi he’s going to be dancing on the road with his community members late at night with his music playing from the same loudspeakers and I don’t think he’s going to be worried about the sleepless nights any non Hindu is suffering then. Because this is the reality, in fact in Mumbai (which Mr. Nigam may of may not be aware of, because of his Majority Privilege status) there is a ban in effect against the use of loudspeakers after 10 pm. But the only people who are effected by this are the minorities. I cannot speak for muslims because I am not one and their issues are different, but I will speak as an Indian Christian living in Mumbai. It is because of this loudspeaker ban that we have to plead with the police and municipal corporation to every year at Easter and Christmas to have a mass outdoors (where a loudspeaker is required) in fact this year the permissions were withheld till the very last minute, and even then with the permissions, there are always police outside to make sure we shut down in time. Yet any Hindu religious procession may go about at any time of the night and blast loud music. 

I personally have no beef (another issue for another day) with Hindu religious processions but if my freedom of religion is curbed in order to not ‘disturb’ the community at large, then maybe it should apply to every one? Or no one. 

As for my dear friend (who really isn’t) people talking about fireworks at Diwali and immersion of Idols at Ganesh Chaturthi are generally addressing environment issues, you can celebrate your festivals without unnecessary noise pollution and you can certainly do so without polluting the seas, rivers and lakes (Ganesh idols made of environmentally friendly materials have been available for years) so maybe you should check your privilege. Kthnxbai.

[politically-not-correct]

Truth Bomb Number 2

White people have privilege - in the form of majority privilege. That’s it. White people don’t hold any true social standing above black people, Asian people, Hispanic people, or any other race. It may look like it, to people with no understanding of economics mind you ;). It looks like it because White people, as of 2010, made up approximately 72% of the USA’s population, seven years later, this trend has continued, and the percentage has likely risen even more. It makes sense that more white people would be in positions of power, because there are a LOT more white people. As of the 2010 census, Black people only made up approximately 13% of the American population. Also, to say Black people are oppressed by white people is a fallacy by definition. The last president of the USA, Barack Obama was black, and his wife Michelle was relatively influential prior to being the first lady - she is also black. Point being - the only privilege white people have, is greater numbers, and more people in power because of this fact. The data doesn’t lie. It has less to do with skin colour, and more to do with population issues. 

[axilet]

Govt response to Little India riot, wherein the frustration and anger of migrant workers over unfair working conditions boiled over into violence: arrange a riot control exercise involving 12 policemen against 10 "volunteered" workers sorry I meant FOREIGN AMBASSADORS. Then post the photos to Facebook like look at us we're doing something!!! Ok.

[fleursdegrasse]

People who are overzealous in their use of institutional power over minorities are the most fragile, insecure people alive because they know they are only "powerful" and "important" when they're part of a group