MTV asks in its probing new documentary, 'what does it mean to be white in America?'
I reject the 'white privilege' assertion that is so popular among wealthy, young, guilty white American women today, and that is so aggressively crammed into their mush-filled skulls by elementary, high school and college teachers and popular icons who view themselves either as aggrieved victims of rampant hate, or elite and enlightened paragons of righteousness, or some bizarre combination of the two.
(I cannot be alone in seeing the irony of Michelle Obama claiming to be a victim of institutional racism, or Michael Moore railing against capitalism.)
What can be the intent of the questioner? Only to highlight differences which, truthfully, seem to be a fetish for progressives.
By dividing and subdividing Americans into endlessly small special groups and classes, the progressive statist then gains the maximum effect of the old martial axiom 'divide and conquer.' When we view ourselves as members of one impossibly outnumbered group or the other, then we naturally look for protection from someone else.
The larger question; the more productive, less divisive, and frankly more honest question, is 'what does it mean to be an American?'
To be an American is to own the traditions and heritage of truth and justice. To be an American is to honor the liberties that come with personal responsibility. To be an American is to respect the rights of all people to live as they wish, and to respect and uphold the laws that make civil society possible. To be an American is to reject hate. To be an American is to protect the weak.
Why not produce a documentary that illustrates the similarities Americans share regardless of race? Why not highlight that young Americans are concerned with getting through school, finding and keeping a good job, love and marriage, raising a family, understanding themselves in a theological context, turmoil in the world, economic uncertainty and opportunity, and things like that? Why not showcase the fact that young Americans value independent thought, freedom of choice, peaceful neighborhoods and good friends? And why not demonstrate that things like these cross all races, all sexes, all classes, all preferences and orientations?
To be an American is to stand as the last best hope for mankind; between man's enlightened liberty and his benighted oppression at the hand of evil.
I reject the 'white privilege' assertion that is so popular among wealthy, young, guilty white American women today, and that is so aggressively crammed into their mush-filled skulls by elementary, high school and college teachers and popular icons who view themselves either as aggrieved victims of rampant hate, or elite and enlightened paragons of righteousness, or some bizarre combination of the two.
(I cannot be alone in seeing the irony of Michelle Obama claiming to be a victim of institutional racism, or Michael Moore railing against capitalism.)
What can be the intent of the questioner? Only to highlight differences which, truthfully, seem to be a fetish for progressives.
By dividing and subdividing Americans into endlessly small special groups and classes, the progressive statist then gains the maximum effect of the old martial axiom 'divide and conquer.' When we view ourselves as members of one impossibly outnumbered group or the other, then we naturally look for protection from someone else.
The larger question; the more productive, less divisive, and frankly more honest question, is 'what does it mean to be an American?'
To be an American is to own the traditions and heritage of truth and justice. To be an American is to honor the liberties that come with personal responsibility. To be an American is to respect the rights of all people to live as they wish, and to respect and uphold the laws that make civil society possible. To be an American is to reject hate. To be an American is to protect the weak.
Why not produce a documentary that illustrates the similarities Americans share regardless of race? Why not highlight that young Americans are concerned with getting through school, finding and keeping a good job, love and marriage, raising a family, understanding themselves in a theological context, turmoil in the world, economic uncertainty and opportunity, and things like that? Why not showcase the fact that young Americans value independent thought, freedom of choice, peaceful neighborhoods and good friends? And why not demonstrate that things like these cross all races, all sexes, all classes, all preferences and orientations?
To be an American is to stand as the last best hope for mankind; between man's enlightened liberty and his benighted oppression at the hand of evil.
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