no-comment-3 t1_j9bay51 wrote
Reply to comment by joe-re in Gritting routes are ‘sexist’ says Cambridgeshire highways chief and ‘must change’ by Bald__egg
Canadian senator Murray Sinclair, who chaired Canada's Truth and Reconcilliation commission put it pretty well:
"If you get rid of all of the racists in all of the positions of government, policing, justice, health — you will still have a problem. Because you will have a system that is functioning based upon policies, priorities and decisions that direct how things are to be done, that come from a time when racism was very blatant."
When people talk (knowledgeably) about systemic racism or systemic sexism, this is what they mean. They aren't automatically accusing people who are part of these systems of being racist, they're calling on people who have agency within that system to learn more, uncover their blind spots, and make changes.
I will concede, however that there are people who equate systemic discrimination with personal bigotry. Some of them just don't get the nuance, some of them are frustrated that people in power are remaing "blind" to these problems for so long, and start to think that maybe there's something else to it.
Weazelfish t1_j9bevm4 wrote
This is the most exhausting discussion in the world and it keeps. happening.
no-comment-3 t1_j9cb6vh wrote
Part of the reason why the discussion keeps happening is because more and more people are being brought into it. Fresh ears need to hear it, even if the voices are tired.
It's important to know when and how to take breaks from the work so that it doesn't burn you out, and so that you can step back and strategize about where you're going to put your time and energy.
thzmand t1_j9g2cf0 wrote
Actually what people need to do is look out for themselves and their families. Nobody gets their rent paid this month because they were morally progressive. Actually we have very little responsibility towards one another, as evidenced by the fact that our moms were the last people to pay a bill or solve a problem for us.
You have kids in school today who lost a year of instructional time, are graduating into historic inflation and a recession, who can't afford a house, who likely will struggle to make good on their college investments....but people think they "need" to learn about something beyond what puts money in their pocket. It's a really pathetic ideology to think that anyone "needs" a religion or philosophy. If you are living on your own and working you don't need a damn thing more than the skills you sell to an employer. Because nobody is giving you jack shit in return.
no-comment-3 t1_j9gu0fz wrote
I personally want to work in a world where what you're saying is true.
Unfortunately, the reality is that in some sectors, in order to feed your family, some people may find themselves required to put up with illegal abuses of power in order to be allowed to keep their jobs, or face other barriers that limit them unfairly.
If you think those barriers and abuses don't exist, well, congratultions on your lottery win, sir.
thzmand t1_j9hwab4 wrote
>Unfortunately, the reality is that in some sectors, in order to feed your family, some people may find themselves required to put up with illegal abuses of power in order to be allowed to keep their jobs, or face other barriers that limit them unfairly.
That's the reason behind my sentiment.
Busy-Okra-7732 t1_j9ckf0a wrote
Idk it's really only been a few decades.
Weazelfish t1_j9ee7er wrote
Maybe it's short on a historical timeline, but I am so tired of the knee-jerk 'but I don't hate anybody' reaction
Uncynical_Diogenes t1_j9crlnc wrote
>happening.
Idk about this word. We never actually have the discussion, and I can tell, because the word “reparations” is still a bogeyman.
No, I think this discussion keeps getting hinted at, and you’re tired of the hints. Because if we actually ever had the conversation, you’d have much more immediately relevant things to complain about.
ZoharDTeach t1_j9crjau wrote
>When people talk (knowledgeably) about systemic racism or systemic sexism, this is what they mean. They aren't automatically accusing people who are part of these systems of being racist, they're calling on people who have agency within that system to learn more, uncover their blind spots, and make changes.
Except this almost never happens and it is instead used as a cudgel that you are not allowed to defend yourself against lest ye be labelled racist.
no-comment-3 t1_j9dnat1 wrote
you should probably get off the internet and talk to real people for a bit.
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