NationStates Jolt Archive

This thread is inspired by another thread which reflects upon the evil that white people may, or may not, have done.

In any case, it got me thinking, if one can question whether or not someone should feel guilty about what their ancestors did, shouldn't this also apply to non-whites. After all their record is less than perfect too and suffers from a singular lack of achievement. For example, if the native population of North America had spent less time fighting each other, and more time developing a modern state, then perhaps the story of colonization would be different.

So people who would judge me, do you feel guilty?

(For the record, the twelve hours a day my grandfather spent hewing coal for a subsitence living is a constant source of agony for me. I am ashamed that he did this and died of lung cancer at 58 just so he could oppress non-whites).

(For the record, the twelve hours a day my grandfather spent hewing coal for a subsitence living is a constant source of agony for me. I am ashamed that he did this and died of lung cancer at 58 just so he could oppress non-whites).

Your grandfather fed coal to fuel the racist hate machine? How shameful!

I didn't do anything. Why the hell should I feel guilty?

Way to misread the original thread. This should be constructive.

Oh, I'm stupid.

Way to misread the original thread. This should be constructive.

There is a presuppostion of collective guilt inherent in the question. Way to not finish college.

Oh, I'm stupid.

No, he fed coal to a racist hate machine, you are right.

For example, if the native population of North America had spent less time fighting each other, and more time developing a modern state, then perhaps the story of colonization would be different.

I don't know about that, feudal Europe looked like a pretty wretched place to me. Working on a farm all your life for some Lord who reaps the fruits of your labor and dying at age 27 leaving behind 11 orphans seems kind of rough. I'd rather be an injun.

Also they had some pretty sweet stuff in Mexico. Those Aztec cities were pretty awesome.

No, he fed coal to a racist hate machine, you are right.I am so confused.

This is nonsense.
No one ever should feel guilty about what their ancestors did. An ancestor is just like a living relative of mine who I never met, and which is equal to a totally stranger person who I see on the street.
Native Americans: fightings with other tribes belonged to their culture didnt it? So why would they be ashamed of their own culture huh?? It has never been a "task" to build a modern civilization as fast as possible, has it.
My great-grandfather was believed to be a nazi. I am not ashamed for what he had or had not done, but that doesn't mean I agree with his acts.
I have a black girlfriend by the way.

Why do I get the horrible feeling this thread it an attempt to cover up racial prejudice in a semi-logical argument? Or justify it?

In reality, no-one should feel bad about their races past. Just what you yourself are doing now. And if you're overconsuming in a world where there's starvation, or supporting prejudice, discrimination and such like then you should feel guilty.

Sides, racial guilt is the most insane thing ever; we're all human. Just trying to seperate it out into 'our' past and 'their' past is dangerous. As far as I'm concerned, everything that's happened in the past has been done by my species, and if it's bad we should make sure it doesn't happen again.

...I have a black girlfriend by the way...

My girlfriend is blacker than your girlfriend.

I am so confused.

Yah, I quoted the wrong person.

Sorry about that.

Why do I get the horrible feeling this thread it an attempt to cover up racial prejudice in a semi-logical argument? Or justify it?

In reality, no-one should feel bad about their races past. Just what you yourself are doing now. And if you're overconsuming in a world where there's starvation, or supporting prejudice, discrimination and such like then you should feel guilty.

Sides, racial guilt is the most insane thing ever; we're all human. Just trying to seperate it out into 'our' past and 'their' past is dangerous. As far as I'm concerned, everything that's happened in the past has been done by my species, and if it's bad we should make sure it doesn't happen again.
It's a 'baby-wants-his-bottle' knee-jerk response to another thread that in the opening post dismisses the notion that one should be guilty for the behavior of people around before you and actually launched into a rather frank discussion about how 'guilt' in this case is misplaced and not constructive. But rather than read and contribute gainfully to that discussion, a pityful copycat thread is made to further degenerate that discussion as if it all was a personal attack.

It's a 'baby-wants-his-bottle' knee-jerk response to another thread that in the opening post dismisses the notion that one should be guilty for the behavior of people around before you and actually launched into a rather frank discussion about how 'guilt' in this case is misplaced and not constructive. But rather than read and contribute gainfully to that discussion, a pityful copycat thread is made to further degenerate that discussion as if it all was a personal attack.

Do you still beat your wife?

Do you still beat your wife?

My girlfriend could kick your wife's ass.

My girlfriend could kick your wife's ass.

I doubt that, my wife is a well famous sumo.

I doubt that, my wife is a well famous sumo.

Yeah, famous for gettin her enormous gelatinous ass kicked.

Yeah, famous for gettin her enormous gelatinous ass kicked.

You only say that 'cos you want her fat ass cheeks on your face.

But I am big enough to ignore your jealousy.

You only say that 'cos you want her fat ass cheeks on your face.

But I am big enough to ignore your jealousy.

No dude, that's sick. I don't want them on my face. I want them on my girlfriend's face. You and I can just watch.

Do you still beat your wife?
Cute. Yes, I understand the concept of 'begging the question' and pre-supposition. You know what else I understand? That I don't have to go with my first knee-jerk impression and that if I keep reading I can avoid being reactionary and actually contribute productivly.

Cute. Yes, I understand the concept of 'begging the question' and pre-supposition. You know what else I understand? That I don't have to go with my first knee-jerk impression and that if I keep reading I can avoid being reactionary and actually contribute productivly.


None of that sounds like very much fun.

i do not like the things my culture/race has done in the past and i do feel guilty for what my ancestors have done, but i know i shouldnt because what can i do to change what happened so long ago? being brought up in an almost exclusively caucasian (where is caucasia anyway?) town i cant help being a little bit rascist at times. i know i shouldnt but sometimes its impossible not to be.

Cute. Yes, I understand the concept of 'begging the question' and pre-supposition. You know what else I understand? That I don't have to go with my first knee-jerk impression and that if I keep reading I can avoid being reactionary and actually contribute productivly.

I could say something about arguing from the specific to the general here, but i won't.

Either this thread is just as valid as the other or neither are.

...Either this thread is just as valid as the other or neither are.

I wish everyone would take this thread as seriously as I do.

I wish everyone would take this thread as seriously as I do.

If nothing else, we have estabilshed that my wife's buttocks on your girlfriends face is a good thing.

In that, I think, we can all find hope.

If nothing else, we have estabilshed that my wife's buttocks on your girlfriends face is a good thing.

In that, I think, we can all find hope.

If we have helped just one person - *sniff* - It was all worth it.

Bump