From outside the box

Jim, my blog neighbor from over at "Just A Guy", in response to my last blog titled "A Liberal Speaks Out Against Affirmative Action" says....

"Before I knew what a liberal or conservative was I had some one explain affirmative action to me. I was only about 11 or 12. After being told what it was I responded with "I thought we were created equal."

As a white male, I have felt somewhat persecuted as it seems that everything is my fault. My fault meaning everything is the white mans fault. There is a perception that no matter what I say or do it is automatically wrong because I am a white male.

Of course I realize that this was a limited view, but like I said it was my perception based on my experience. Perception thankfully can be changed and is not fact."

Joe's reply....I agree Jim, but in all fairness I think it should be recognized that the white American male has been responsible for more than a few shenanigans over the years. We enslaved the Africans, killed the Indians, held women back as long as we possibly could, created nuclear and biological weapons, started a few unnecessary wars, and I believe it was a white male who gave Cher her first recording contract (now that's just wrong I tell you, wrong!).

On the other hand the white male has learned from and amended many of his/our mistakes. We fought and died to end slavery, we have been responsible for thousands of great inventions that have benefited the whole world, we wrote the constitution, we (straight men at least) did not buy any Cher albums, and it was white males Trey Parker and Matt Stone who gave us "South Park", the greatest cartoon in the history of mankind!

All seriousness aside Jim, I do not personally buy into the "sins of our fathers" bull@#$%. The catholic church started that nonsense with their "born in original sin" idea and western man has felt guilty ever since for....well, for being born! I feel bad for others who have suffered over what my ancestors may have done, but I do not feel remorse, guilt, or any need to apologize or make amends. As an ex catholic and being a tall-caucasian-folically gifted-financially successful-well endowed-American male, I carry plenty of guilt. But if it's ok with the rest of the world, I'm going to go on living, keep learning from the mistakes that I have and surely will make, and hopefully leave the world a little better off because I was here....what more can a man do?