RE: Past Injustices (was Kids@Work)

WANDA CAHILL (bry96@ebicom.net)
Mon, 6 May 1996 17:01:23 -0500


Interestly, plenty of people were upset at my letter, but only one =
person had objected to the sarcastic remarks of sending young men to day =
care centers, laundromats, etc., on a "Take Our Sons to Work Day." Too =
bad. Taking care of daughters is part of a parent's job, but taking =
care of sons is also part of the job. =20

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough -- I have no objection to a "Take Our =
Daughters to Work Day." I simply object to the tone of the discussion =
and the unwarranted assumption that all males -- not even just the =
"privileged white males" of TIGHE's order -- have some particular =
privileges that women do not have. I don't see it. There are those =
people who do have privileges, mainly privilege provided by money. And, =
of course, some religions grant special roles to males or females ( but =
happily, there are other religions to choose from if one doesn't like =
one's religion.) =20

True, there are plenty of bigots in this country, people who judge by =
race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual preference, and who knows =
what else. And guess what -- those bigots are not all white males! =
But I refuse to accept that we fight bigotry by establishing our own =
judgements based on those same issues. =20

And, Bob, it's no accident if you have good manners and know how to =
communicate intelligently. Your race and gender you get at birth, but =
the person you become is something you achieve for yourself, and the =
latter has nothing to do with the former. =20

----------
From: TIGHE@apsicc.aps.edu[SMTP:TIGHE@apsicc.aps.edu]
Sent: Monday, May 06, 1996 5:59 AM
To: edequity-tempore@tristram.edc.org
Subject: Past Injustices (was Kids@Work)

There is a common, but completely erroneous, foundation underlying
this statement. I am amazed at the number of people who express the
idea that discrimination against women (and minorities) is a PAST
injustice. But, whenever someone is complaining about affirmative
action, you are likely to hear the refrain about changing the past.

For the record: Women and minorities are victims of discrimination
in the present, every day, right now. Attitudes which keep women
and minorities from competing equally against white men are still
very common, and are being passed on to a whole new generation of
children (taught by their parents, teachers, peers, advertisements,
TV and radio, etc.). Yes, things have improved somewhat from the
cultural realities of thirty or more years ago, but discrimination
is still thoroughly entrenched in our society.

So, Wanda, don't worry about your son being mistreated for the sins
of his fathers or uncles. All of the "Daughters to Work" days and=20
Herstory classes and Minority Culture/History classes and affirmative
action plans, put together, don't make more than a thimble-sized
hole in the umbrella of advantage and privilege which your son will
carry through life. If you have a daughter, however, you might start
worrying about HER being treated poorly...

By the way, I am a white male with a "proper" California/Midwestern
accent and good manners. I planned none of this--it came to me by
chance--but I am well aware that it provides me with many opportu-
nities which less "culturally acceptable" people do not have. =20

-- Bob

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Robert Tighe Resource Teacher tighe@apsicc.aps.edu
Instructional Technology Outside of a dog,
Albuquerque Public Schools a book is mans best friend;
220 Monroe SW inside of a dog,
Albuquerque, NM 87108-2811 its too dark to read.
505-256-4266 -- Groucho Marx
http://www.aps.edu/aps/SW_depart/~Tighe/rtighe.html
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