From: heimberg@pacific.mitre.org (Jeff Heimberger)
Subject: Re: Who cares
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 12:06:53 GMT

In article <12363@inews.intel.com> pharvey@mipos3.intel.com (Paul Harvey) writes:
>
>I wont insinuate that you do any of these things. I know that I personally do
>some of them. As a taxpaying citizen of the US, I am responsible for some,
>like oppresion of the third world.

*You* may choose to bear the responsibility of the oppression of the
third world on *your* shoulders, but *I* do not choose to do so.  *I*
have not *personally* oppressed any third world nation... thus, *I* do
not want to be blamed for it.

>And being a consumer, I do destroy the
>environment, although I try to minimize my impact.

How could you be a consumer and not destroy the environment, unless you
lived an utterly organic lifestyle, and eschewed everything such as
prepared foods, electricity, motor transportation, etc.?

>I did not set up the
>patriarchy, but I know I serve to perpetuate it. Again I try to reverse
>and subvert when I understand the role I play in perpetuating it. I do not
>wish to perpetuate it, but it is another manner understanding all the ways
>that I do. I have never raped a woman and I doubt I ever would, but I may
>have used my male vocal aggression against women. Again it becomes a question
>of me perceiving where I err.

What about evolution?  Male agression was bred into us over the
millenia because it helped perpetuate the species, and now, we are to
throw it all away in the blink of an eye because it's Politically
Incorrect.  Don't get me wrong -- I do not for a moment condone rape,
spousal abuse, discrimination based on gender, etc., all of which I
view as crimes.  However, I believe it is arrogant for the human race
to suddenly devalue everything that nature bred into us over centuries
of evolution.

Perhaps it is time for the next evolutionary step, but will any of us
see it in our lifetimes?  I doubt it, given the amount of time required
by evolution.  That, however, does not mean that we should not strive
for it, but it does mean that the Oppressed Masses [tm] could be a bit
more understanding of the Straight White Males [tm, again] who don't
buy into the old ways.

>Anyway, I think you see what I'm getting at.
>There is no one person responsible for the system of oppression we now
>have. We all play our roles. It is a question of finding out the roles that
>one plays and reversing them. It is not a question of placing blame. The
>wrongs of the past, which includes yesterday, can not be compensated for.
>The best one can hope to do is to improve so that the future is brighter.
>We all carry a burden and everyone says their burden is the heaviest, but
>one who feels it knows it most. Where did I come from, who am I and where am
>I going? I come from a democracy founded on slavery that had complete
>disrespect for the natives. Now who am I and where am I going? How can I
>change my ways such that the children don't view me as an oppressor, when
>they reminisce?

If *you*, by your *personal* lifestyle, cannot convince your children
that you are not an oppressor, then you're not doing enough.  But it's
not your children you should be concerned with here.  The people to
worry about are those who barely know you, but still label you as an
oppressor, because of the way you look.  It's a form of discrimination
that is just as heinous as the traditional forms, and yet people still
do not seem to understand.