In recent years it's been fairly common to hear white, cisgender-heterosexual Christian men feigning incredulity at people looking for "safe spaces" (Their air quotes, not mine.) The request by historically marginalized communities to have a place where they are not subjected to open bigotry or hateful speech, is often met with thick condescension, various sarcastic insults, and the assertion that no one has ever really had such imaginary luxuries to begin with—so these people should stop complaining.
Most white, cisgender men, in my small circle, do not appreciate how people of color, women, and LGTBQI+ individuals always have to worry about being stopped by police, traveling alone, or appearing to be vulnerable or different, ALL.THE.TIME.
It is a constant concern that overshadows most everything we do: shopping, driving, dating, how we dress, being home alone, and even sometimes not being home alone.
I do not want to be unsympathetic or dismissive of their concerns, but I would like if they would not be dismissive, frequently, of everyone else's.
I suppose they are afraid that making the safe space wider means they will lose their safe space. They never think of what they might gain by opening their minds and hearts to the wondrous diversity that exists in human cultures throughout time and across the planet. Growth in understanding and appreciation is not a value they have inculcated. They are so worried about their privilege they cannot see their own impoverishment.
We must never forget that the United States was created to favor white male land owners. Period. Not women. Not folks who rented or didn’t own property. Certainly those who were not Caucasian. Not slaves or indentured servants. Women have had the right to vote for barely 100 years. Women have had their bodily autonomy taken away for a calendar year now. Non Caucasian people been disadvantaged since the beginning. Less opportunity, less education, less pay for equal work, less of pretty much everything. Indigenous peoples have survived the efforts to literally kill them off. Our government has led the way in efforts to kill off their ancient customs & way of life. Certainly white men should stop complaining.
LOVED THIS! I am so sick of hearing the very phrases you used in this article all around me. I am sharing this to all my social media outlets. Thank you for the great insight!
Dear John, thank you. Some day I hope you write about an entity I call "The Boys' Club". All this swagger, whining and complaining about being discriminated against, by those who actually DO the discriminating, seems to me to assert the existence of the Boys' Club. Only white, cis-gendered males are accepted into membership. Sticking up for women, for LGBTQ+ folks, for people of color, is to betray the membership of the club. Fathers berate their skinny, awkward sons because they don't qualify for membership. Transition from a male to a female is betrayal of the membership. Even when, years ago, the Episcopal Church priesthood voted to not allow women priests, those who had voted in favor of ordaining women (the minority) were labeled "disloyal". Disloyal to what? To the Boys' Club. John, will you write about this, and also write about what it would take for a white guy to give up his membership? Because I think these white guys don't support women, LGBTQ+ folks or people of color because they're afraid the club will ostracize them. Thank you!
I realized this morning when the WE is used in speeches such as the one given by Bob McEwen about athletes who were supporting Black Lives Matter in September 2020, that WE stands for White Elite. Bob McEwen was a close confidant of President Trump. It was no surprise when Trump appointed him to the 1776 Commission on December 18, 2020. It is no coincident that the first meeting of the Commission was on January 5, 2021, a day before the insurrection. How many people have any idea who Bob McEwen is and what his influence has been in the conservative movement's leadership?
If you want to hear what he said, go to YouTube and enter "An Evening with Bob McEwen and the Collingsworth Family." At minute 23:30 McEwen transitions from his elevator speech on American Exceptionalism to a condescending, tirade against athletes who took a knee during the anthem in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Probably the nicest thing he said was calling the athletes "pathetic multi-millionaires."
Right on the money, John. As another straight white male, I'm amazed at how clueless these guys are when it comes to who faces discrimination in our society. They have no idea what persecution really is.
Most white, cisgender men, in my small circle, do not appreciate how people of color, women, and LGTBQI+ individuals always have to worry about being stopped by police, traveling alone, or appearing to be vulnerable or different, ALL.THE.TIME.
It is a constant concern that overshadows most everything we do: shopping, driving, dating, how we dress, being home alone, and even sometimes not being home alone.
I do not want to be unsympathetic or dismissive of their concerns, but I would like if they would not be dismissive, frequently, of everyone else's.
I suppose they are afraid that making the safe space wider means they will lose their safe space. They never think of what they might gain by opening their minds and hearts to the wondrous diversity that exists in human cultures throughout time and across the planet. Growth in understanding and appreciation is not a value they have inculcated. They are so worried about their privilege they cannot see their own impoverishment.
We must never forget that the United States was created to favor white male land owners. Period. Not women. Not folks who rented or didn’t own property. Certainly those who were not Caucasian. Not slaves or indentured servants. Women have had the right to vote for barely 100 years. Women have had their bodily autonomy taken away for a calendar year now. Non Caucasian people been disadvantaged since the beginning. Less opportunity, less education, less pay for equal work, less of pretty much everything. Indigenous peoples have survived the efforts to literally kill them off. Our government has led the way in efforts to kill off their ancient customs & way of life. Certainly white men should stop complaining.
LOVED THIS! I am so sick of hearing the very phrases you used in this article all around me. I am sharing this to all my social media outlets. Thank you for the great insight!
Dear John, thank you. Some day I hope you write about an entity I call "The Boys' Club". All this swagger, whining and complaining about being discriminated against, by those who actually DO the discriminating, seems to me to assert the existence of the Boys' Club. Only white, cis-gendered males are accepted into membership. Sticking up for women, for LGBTQ+ folks, for people of color, is to betray the membership of the club. Fathers berate their skinny, awkward sons because they don't qualify for membership. Transition from a male to a female is betrayal of the membership. Even when, years ago, the Episcopal Church priesthood voted to not allow women priests, those who had voted in favor of ordaining women (the minority) were labeled "disloyal". Disloyal to what? To the Boys' Club. John, will you write about this, and also write about what it would take for a white guy to give up his membership? Because I think these white guys don't support women, LGBTQ+ folks or people of color because they're afraid the club will ostracize them. Thank you!
I realized this morning when the WE is used in speeches such as the one given by Bob McEwen about athletes who were supporting Black Lives Matter in September 2020, that WE stands for White Elite. Bob McEwen was a close confidant of President Trump. It was no surprise when Trump appointed him to the 1776 Commission on December 18, 2020. It is no coincident that the first meeting of the Commission was on January 5, 2021, a day before the insurrection. How many people have any idea who Bob McEwen is and what his influence has been in the conservative movement's leadership?
If you want to hear what he said, go to YouTube and enter "An Evening with Bob McEwen and the Collingsworth Family." At minute 23:30 McEwen transitions from his elevator speech on American Exceptionalism to a condescending, tirade against athletes who took a knee during the anthem in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Probably the nicest thing he said was calling the athletes "pathetic multi-millionaires."
They won’t listen. You think being hateful and ignorant is a bad thing. They don’t agree.
So much crying so much whining. And they say liberals are snowflakes. Eyeroll
Thank you for this. I shared it. It's truth.
Right on the money, John. As another straight white male, I'm amazed at how clueless these guys are when it comes to who faces discrimination in our society. They have no idea what persecution really is.