Many of us, who have the luxury of reading these words do not believe that we are privileged. Somehow, we have created scenarios that lead us to believe that we are just as capable, just as blessed as the majority of the world's population. Some actually believe that those who are worse off deserve their plight and could change their station in life if they just willed it, prayed to the right "God", or invested their incomes rather than squandering them. One interesting thing about privilege, it nearly demands that we be oblivious to the fact. When you become aware of your privilege, it requires confrontation of a moral dilemma, one that is with you all of your life. It is relatively easy to see the privilege that others enjoy, thus the long legs that the saying:"Born with a silver spoon in his mouth" has enjoyed. In our own minds, we defend and justify everything. You and I both know how deliciously comforting it is to know that we worked hard to get where we are, that we made something of ourselves and that our rewards in this world are the result of our own effort and intellectual prowess. Thinking otherwise puts us at odds with our own ego, and anyone who has tried that on for size knows that it can be an uncomfortable fit.
Heck, I got away with more before I entered kindergarten than some people get away with in a lifetime.Why? Because I was born the right color, the right sex, in the right country, at the right time, as well as on the nicer side of the tracks. Wants outstripped needs by a large margin and I knew it. Humans are not sheep. Although many people act like they are, and multinational corporations want us to be. We may be the only animal on the planet that ponders what it is. We often find ourselves justifying who we are, fighting over our political beliefs, expressing who we think we are and acting in ways designed to look a certain way. Knowing how thoroughly spoiled I was caused me to look deeply into many issues, not least of which was where our wealth has come from. As a family, a nation and a culture of capitalism. What I found was unsettling at best and in the mind of a seven year old, many of the processes that led to the creation of my privilege were obviously dangerous, ugly and wrong-headed. Ratter than feeling guilt over what others had created for my benefit, I was able to see the responsibility I had for undoing some, if not all the damage that came from unequal distribution of wealth. Sounds like a mammoth task but at least it kept me on good terms with my ego.
A friend recently told me how funny it is to hear his friends complain about things that are complete and utter luxury. "My coffee is too hot.", "I can't get cell phone reception here.", I don't like the way Dubstep is going.", etc. In the most "advanced" civilization known to date we sometimes find ourselves confronting trifles as if they were important and by doing so miss the boat on more weighty issues that are far more deserving of our attention. In the seventies, I studied all I could about solar homes. There was something elegant about the idea of opening up more windows to let in the southern sun in winter, insulating more appropriately, (I live nearly halfway between the Equator and the North Pole) and adding insulating panels over the openings during the night. Having the luxury of time to study and the luxury of a supportive environment, I learned more about the benefits of passive solar design in elementary school than, it seems, most architects learn in college. Virtually every new commercial building that goes up ignores where the sun goes in winter and will forever be addicted to the energy that comes from giant corporations, rather than that of the sun. When we ignore our own privilege, it is like the builder who is more concerned with the view, or how the building will look from the street rather than how it will function. The subtle forces that act on us every single day are as powerful in their own way as the sun can be when the mercury is hovering below zero.
Who we are is, to a large part, based on what we have received from others. Some of whom may have passed centuries ago. Much of what we have inherited has been good but some things have been decidedly unhealthy, demeaning to large groups and outright wrong. I want to live in a world that overcomes the idea of being born into a certain station or class. I want everyone to be free of the limitations based on class, ethnicity and sex. Even though I was born with many of the benefits that come with a life of privilege, the bootstraps I was promised have not come in yet. I kjeep trying to pull myself up by whatever I have, but to date it has been to no avail. As soon as most people in power realize that I've still got a little fight in me, they want nothing more to do with me. Each time I have improved my station, the United states Government raises the poverty line. always illusive are the fruits of my efforts, the accolades and rewards. True privilege knows no limits, so perhaps I am not privileged after all. On the other hand, I have far more going for me than the majority of people out there. I have almost always had water to drink that was free of disease causing organisms. My coffee has almost always been the right temperature, and my trash gets picked up every week. It may still be a struggle to make ends meet from time to time, but having met those challenges routinely all of my life, I'm pretty sure I will go on making the best of whatever situation I find myself in. Sometimes it takes all of my time, trying to figure out a next step, other times I just go blindly forth and rely on the fact that I'm male, white and living in America.
Heck, I got away with more before I entered kindergarten than some people get away with in a lifetime.Why? Because I was born the right color, the right sex, in the right country, at the right time, as well as on the nicer side of the tracks. Wants outstripped needs by a large margin and I knew it. Humans are not sheep. Although many people act like they are, and multinational corporations want us to be. We may be the only animal on the planet that ponders what it is. We often find ourselves justifying who we are, fighting over our political beliefs, expressing who we think we are and acting in ways designed to look a certain way. Knowing how thoroughly spoiled I was caused me to look deeply into many issues, not least of which was where our wealth has come from. As a family, a nation and a culture of capitalism. What I found was unsettling at best and in the mind of a seven year old, many of the processes that led to the creation of my privilege were obviously dangerous, ugly and wrong-headed. Ratter than feeling guilt over what others had created for my benefit, I was able to see the responsibility I had for undoing some, if not all the damage that came from unequal distribution of wealth. Sounds like a mammoth task but at least it kept me on good terms with my ego.
A friend recently told me how funny it is to hear his friends complain about things that are complete and utter luxury. "My coffee is too hot.", "I can't get cell phone reception here.", I don't like the way Dubstep is going.", etc. In the most "advanced" civilization known to date we sometimes find ourselves confronting trifles as if they were important and by doing so miss the boat on more weighty issues that are far more deserving of our attention. In the seventies, I studied all I could about solar homes. There was something elegant about the idea of opening up more windows to let in the southern sun in winter, insulating more appropriately, (I live nearly halfway between the Equator and the North Pole) and adding insulating panels over the openings during the night. Having the luxury of time to study and the luxury of a supportive environment, I learned more about the benefits of passive solar design in elementary school than, it seems, most architects learn in college. Virtually every new commercial building that goes up ignores where the sun goes in winter and will forever be addicted to the energy that comes from giant corporations, rather than that of the sun. When we ignore our own privilege, it is like the builder who is more concerned with the view, or how the building will look from the street rather than how it will function. The subtle forces that act on us every single day are as powerful in their own way as the sun can be when the mercury is hovering below zero.
Who we are is, to a large part, based on what we have received from others. Some of whom may have passed centuries ago. Much of what we have inherited has been good but some things have been decidedly unhealthy, demeaning to large groups and outright wrong. I want to live in a world that overcomes the idea of being born into a certain station or class. I want everyone to be free of the limitations based on class, ethnicity and sex. Even though I was born with many of the benefits that come with a life of privilege, the bootstraps I was promised have not come in yet. I kjeep trying to pull myself up by whatever I have, but to date it has been to no avail. As soon as most people in power realize that I've still got a little fight in me, they want nothing more to do with me. Each time I have improved my station, the United states Government raises the poverty line. always illusive are the fruits of my efforts, the accolades and rewards. True privilege knows no limits, so perhaps I am not privileged after all. On the other hand, I have far more going for me than the majority of people out there. I have almost always had water to drink that was free of disease causing organisms. My coffee has almost always been the right temperature, and my trash gets picked up every week. It may still be a struggle to make ends meet from time to time, but having met those challenges routinely all of my life, I'm pretty sure I will go on making the best of whatever situation I find myself in. Sometimes it takes all of my time, trying to figure out a next step, other times I just go blindly forth and rely on the fact that I'm male, white and living in America.
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