My Privilege Allows Me to Think Differently

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I cringe at that status; I’ve always believed that thinking yourself as having a harder route to success will cause you to be that way.

I had a thought just today, though, and it was when I was reading an article from a friend about bullying in the online classroom — something I had no clue existed. It makes sense though, online lends a certain anonymity to discussion even if we (sort of) have an idea with who we’re talking with.

There’s a massive ravine in the world right now and it’s not limited to America. It’s in the UK, Europe, and everywhere else that I talk to people. The classes are being ripped apart; two people that would normally be friends are now on the opposite ends of the spectrum due to their political affiliations. If it’s not political then it’s race or colour, and if it’s not race or colour then it’s gender. It’s quite sickening to the detriment that people are being led into segregation.

I refuse to let this happen to me. My best friend is at the opposite end of the political spectrum from me, my good online friends are a beautiful mix of all races and colours, and I adore women just as much as I adore men. This trap will not infect me; no way.

But is that my privilege?

I’ve actually never had to sit at the end of a table and defend my right to be in a country. Being a tall Scottish man, I’m usually met with wonder and awe rather than disdain. I’ve traveled to America and they LOVE the Scots there, where the questions I was asked, the free drinks I was given, the amount of people that went out of their way to talk to me was quite staggering. I had a really good perception of the place. It’s not just America, either. Everywhere I go I’m reminded of broadswords, William Wallace, Glens, and good stuff about my country.

Imagine if I was African American?

Or Hispanic?

Or even Middle Eastern?

What would my experiences be then?

Of course, I want to see more love in this world with more unity and acceptance but I really don’t experience much racism or sexism personally. I see it as an onlooker, and I’ll never stand by and watch it unfold, but Jesus, I sort of feel I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m quite privileged. White, Scottish, Middle Class and Educated, in the grand scheme of things it has been plain sailing for me.

There’s a running joke about an article we saw from an American newspaper about an African American Atheist woman with one arm and severe mental health problems – and how literally FUCKED she was within her culture.

I preach love and unity for everyone but oh how different it could be for me if my circumstances were different in any way. If I found myself constantly battling my entitlement to live in a country that I was born in, or if I went to the shops in a better area and was treated like a common criminal — I wonder how different my perception would be?

I hear a lot about people telling us that immigrants are destroying the nation, but I disagree, I actually believe that it is our attitudes to race, religion, gender, political stance and whatever that seeks to divide us, that’s destroying our nations. The buck has to stop with someone to change the world and it’s certainly not going to be those at the top. Let it start with us for a change. Let’s stop dictating from our armchairs and go out and be the change that we wish to see in the world.

If you believe that animals need help – go help animals.

If you are mental health orientated – go volunteer at a mental health charity.

If you want to see more racial cohesion – go organize community events with your local charities.

It’s all well and good, sitting here, judging from the safety of our PC screens but the real change happens when we go out there and make a difference for what we believe in. Make your voice count, rather than just another angry person in a chair among a sea of others in the same situation.

Peace brothers – love and acceptance.