Thu Nov 26, 2015, 08:02 PM
Star Member MineralMan (78,036 posts)
There are many things that I cannot experience,
because of who I am. Because I cannot experience them, I cannot fully understand their impact on those who do experience them.
I cannot experience the fear a young black man has when a cop yells "Freeze!" or pulls me over when I'm just driving down the street.
I cannot experience being pregnant due to a sexual assault or a date rape and being forced to carry a fetus to term because it is almost impossible to obtain an abortion where I live.
I cannot experience the shame and frustration of being unable to find work that can support me because I have a mental illness I cannot afford to treat.
I cannot experience the challenge of having a disability or medical problem that severely affects my life.
I cannot experience venom and hatred from people because my sexual orientation is not the same as theirs.
There are so many things I cannot experience. I'm a white, middle class, heterosexual, healthy, able man with a good education. It is impossible for me to experience things so many people do experience.
All I can do is listen to people and try to imagine myself in their positions. All I can do is speak out when I see things happen to others. All I can do is to try to make the society more aware and support people who will do the same.
What I cannot do is actually experience what others experience. That is my privilege. I did nothing to earn that privilege. I can only recognize that it exists and listen to the experiences of others. I can only try to imagine myself in their positions.
You wanna be a victim. Victimhood.
Well, White heterosexual males can be shot by police for not complying with them, not able to find work due to mental illness, disability, and target of harassment.
