Who knew that Andrew W. K. was so smart, thoughtful, and gracious.
You don't need to feel bad about being who you are in order to have an appreciation and awareness of people different than you and the challenges they face. Some people have continued to mistreat others based on how they look and where they're from. We don't need to compete over who has more or worse problems to have empathy for the unjust treatment of others, especially when it's an injustice that you may personally never face.
We can better understand the concept of privilege when we understand the following: Even though your life may not be trouble-free, just having the chance to consider some of the ideas we're discussing here as simply ideas -- and not as true hardships you experience yourself -- counts as a type of privilege. Contemplating discrimination as an abstract concept, rather than as part of the everyday existence you're forced to endure, is a luxury some people never get to enjoy.
And this next bit nails the problem I have with about 95% of SJWs -- their hubris and refusal to accept complexity, subtlety, or nuance. They just want to fingerpoint, failmob, and blamestorm.
The world is too nuanced, chaotic, and complicated to try and compare our troubles by using a single standard - not everyone has the same starting standard to work with. Our dilemma is manifold, and so are its causes. But we do ourselves a disservice whenever we attempt to find the root of all evil in one location, on one side, or in one idea. When we try to pin down the location of evil, it simply shifts to another location. And sometimes, without us even realizing it, that new location may be inside of us.
Love is never naive. Compassion is never inappropriate. Love and compassion make life livable.
Let's make our time here as loving and joyful as it can be, for everyone. And remember... just because you don't see a problem doesn't mean it isn't there.
