I hear you. Tori Amos is one of my favorite artists (she's no pushover by any means) and I'm fully supporting of equal rights, etc., but equal rights to me doesn't equal male bashing. I remember reading Tori said feminists didn't like her despite being such a strong female role model precisely because she didn't 'hate' men. It feels to me sometimes like it's more some people/groups want 'revenge' not equality (may apply to racism as well in some corners) and there's this "sins of the father" aspect that is mind boggling to me. WTF did *I* have to do with events of the past? WTF did my family who came over in the 20th century and worked in steel mills have to do with anything? There were some evil people to be sure, but it wasn't me so stop lumping me in with them just because I have a Y chromosome and white skin. I didn't
ask to be born a white male for goodness sake.
White male privilege? The media's favorite key words today. I'm sick of hearing it. I grew up dirt poor with no father around (he left when I was 2). My mother had her work cut out for her. We lived on $500 a month from my grandfather until I was a teenager and my mother was able to get a job at the post office. We didn't live in the best neighborhood either. Did I make excuses? Did I get in with the wrong crowds like some of my friends? No, I felt bad about our situation. I tried to stay out of trouble. I paid attention, got good grades and a high ACT score which eventually got me an academic scholarship and then eventually two degrees (not from some place like MIT, but from a state University). But now I'm supposed to apologize for actually making something of myself? A woman originally hired me where I work for god's sake. It wasn't some rich old white dude handing me a cigar and a glass of scotch and giving me a knowing wink. But according to some, she should have been forced to give that job to anyone BUT me since I was SO privileged in life not because I had the right qualifications, good college grades and an actual work ethic the company was looking for in a worker. Oh but Karma for trying to do the right things in life. Now I'm
privileged to have weird neck/shoulder problems the doctors can't figure out and feel pain every day, all day. Life is bliss.
Some people will always find an excuse as to why they didn't do better, try harder or get where they want to be in life. Placing the blame on others is always easier than looking in the mirror. Yes, there are some real jerks out there. There are evil people out there. There are rich men that will fight tooth and nail to make sure they hold onto power. They were the Pharisees in the Bible, the Nobles in the Middle Ages and certain groups in the hear and now, but you can't solve a problem by creating a new problem at the opposite extreme. Equality and fairness is not beating your perceived 'enemy' into a bloody pulp as some would clearly do the moment they get their chance. The end of the Hunger Games movie comes to mind. Replace President Snow with Ms. Snow #2. The more things change, the more they remain the same (except Katniss could see it coming plain as day and chose to not let it happen.)
