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As the shine fades...
Feb. 13th, 2008 03:31 pm...we see the true, ugly core that Australia still has. The comments pages of news sites all over the country are filled with things like this:
To all the bleeding hearts out there: Have you ever considered that people who disagree with your position are NOT actually RACIST!!! They are just sick and tired of the endless handouts and favoritism that this group of Australia is shown. From health, education, cash handouts, guarenteed uni places...the list goes on. If any one is racist, it is the govenrment of the day - who shows favoritism to the Aboriginals!!
Isn't it weird, that left-wingers and right-wingers have different definitions of the word "equality"? For right-wingers, it involves treating everybody exactly the same way, rich or poor, black or white, young or old, male or female, able-bodied or disabled. No special handouts to minorities or single mums or old people. That's equality. Anything else is favouritism, or political correctness, or pandering to minorities, or whatever.
Left-wingers, on the other hand, see equality as something else. It's a question of working towards everyone having equal opportunities. And that involved tipping the scales for people who are already disadvantaged, to allow them to have access to the same opportunities as the more fortunate of us. And yes, that involves giving some groups special attention, special facilities, special resources. Favouritism. Scholarships for poor students. Systems to boost healthcare and education in Aboriginal communities. Ramps for disabled people. Child care aid for single mums.
I think the conservative reaction is one that's deeply ingrained in us, as a capitalist society. After all, the reasoning goes, we've worked so hard for all the things we have, why should they get given it for nothing? It's not fair.
But would these people swap places? Do they really think these minorities' lives are so damn easy?
I think not.
To all the bleeding hearts out there: Have you ever considered that people who disagree with your position are NOT actually RACIST!!! They are just sick and tired of the endless handouts and favoritism that this group of Australia is shown. From health, education, cash handouts, guarenteed uni places...the list goes on. If any one is racist, it is the govenrment of the day - who shows favoritism to the Aboriginals!!
Isn't it weird, that left-wingers and right-wingers have different definitions of the word "equality"? For right-wingers, it involves treating everybody exactly the same way, rich or poor, black or white, young or old, male or female, able-bodied or disabled. No special handouts to minorities or single mums or old people. That's equality. Anything else is favouritism, or political correctness, or pandering to minorities, or whatever.
Left-wingers, on the other hand, see equality as something else. It's a question of working towards everyone having equal opportunities. And that involved tipping the scales for people who are already disadvantaged, to allow them to have access to the same opportunities as the more fortunate of us. And yes, that involves giving some groups special attention, special facilities, special resources. Favouritism. Scholarships for poor students. Systems to boost healthcare and education in Aboriginal communities. Ramps for disabled people. Child care aid for single mums.
I think the conservative reaction is one that's deeply ingrained in us, as a capitalist society. After all, the reasoning goes, we've worked so hard for all the things we have, why should they get given it for nothing? It's not fair.
But would these people swap places? Do they really think these minorities' lives are so damn easy?
I think not.
