this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2024
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United States | News & Politics
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Yes, the issue that needs to be addressed is the existence of that "ick factor" itself.
"Hispanic women for Harris!" Yay!
"Black nonbinaries for Harris!" Yay!
"White guys for Harris!" That's disgusting.
You know why young white men tend to be attracted to the Republican party? Because this is how the fucking Democrats talk to and about them. "Well the blue team seems to hate me, and the red team seems to hate everyone who isn't me. Guess I'm on the red team."
Do you see how easy it would be to starve the Republicans of support by keeping your own racism to yourself?
Such white man's burden. I'm one of them. Suck it up and go live your life, we're living on easy mode. Whatever issues you have in yours aren't because you're white or male.
Icky
That saying is about the racist trope of the white man saving minorities from themselves, which makes no sense in this context.
The usage I've understood is in mocking white men for imagining they're carrying the weight of society and being unfairly ignored or maligned despite their "burden". I've never looked into the origin and I'm happy to better understand the context, but hope this explanation bridges the gap in what I meant.
"The White Man's Burden" (1899), by Rudyard Kipling, is a poem about the Philippine–American War (1899–1902) that exhorts the United States to assume colonial control of the Filipino people and their country.
It has nothing to do with being ignored or maligned by their own society for being white. It is basically the opposite, an obligation to interfere because they are so damn awesome they are obligated to save the non-white people from themselves. Any movie where a white guy goes to a foreign place to 'save' the local people is based on the white man's burden. For example, the Last Samurai and Avatar (with the blue people).
I'm totally down to say the modern version I've seen is not a good translation of the original sentiment, but the "burden" in each case isn't really about helping others. Neither viewpoint is undertaking the "burden" for altruistic reasons, they want the praise and rewards for all they feel they've done. They're "good people" because they stoically gave to their lessers, and everyone should recognize that. The colonialists got to live as lords and be praised by their fellow white people for their good deeds, while the modern white man is bitter because he doesn't feel rewarded, even if only by everyone saying "white guys are great".
It has nothing to do with being rewarded or praise or lack of praise or disdain.
That's not its original meaning at all.
Yes, per my last comment I hadn't previously looked into the origin and was happy to better understand the context.
Noooo, don't actually read into the saying and interpret it for what it's actually supposed to mean! Just accept that the customer is always right! /s
You are right, that was a very teo left feet thing to do!
I'm a white male and you don't fucking speak for me. Keep your prejudices to yourself.
If you think your opinions are worthless, why share them?
I... Must have? I can't even find the comment I was responding to in this thread