White Privilege, White Entitlement and the 2008 Election

For those of you who do not understand the difference between racism as it has been taught to us & white privilege, this may help. Peggy McIntosh, Associate Director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women,describes white privilege as "an invisible package of unearned assets, which I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was "meant" to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks" (McIntosh, 1989). The following are examples of ways white individuals have privilege because they are white. Please read the list and place a check next to the privileges that apply to you or that you have encountered. At the end, try to list at least two more ways you have privilege based on your race. ___ 1. I can arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time. ___ 2. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed. ___ 3. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented. ___ 4. When I am told about our national heritage or about "civilization," I am shown that people of my color made it what it is. ___ 5. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race. ___ 6. I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my race represented, into a supermarket and find the food I grew up with, into a hairdresser's shop and find someone who can deal with my hair. ___ 7. Whether I use checks, credit cards, or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of financial responsibility. ___ 8. I am not made acutely aware that my shape, bearing, or body odor will be taken as a reflection on my race. ___ 9. I can worry about racism without being seen as self-interested or self-seeking. ___ 10. I can take a job or enroll in a college with an affirmative action policy without having my co-workers or peers assume I got it because of my race. ___ 11. I can be late to a meeting without having the lateness reflect on my race. ___ 12. I can choose public accommodation with out fearing that people of my race cannot get in or will be mistreated. ___ 13. I am never asked to speak for all of the people of my racial group. ___ 14. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk with the "person in charge" I will be facing a person of my race. ___ 15. If a traffic cop pulls me over or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven't been singled out because of my race. ___ 16. I can easily by posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children's magazines featuring people of my race. ___ 17. I can choose blemish cover or bandages in "flesh" color and have them more or less match my skin. ___ 18. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race. ___ 19. I can walk into a classroom and know I will not be the only member of my race. ___ 20. I can enroll in a class at college and be sure that the majority of my professors will be of my race. http://www.unh.edu/residential-life/diversity/aw_article17.pdf A longer list can be found at http://mmcisaac.faculty.asu.edu/emc598ge/Unpacking.html

I agree with TJAmerican. This doesn't have much to do with being white or otherwise. White people have a guilt feeling about non-white people because of past racial abuses (slavery, discrimination, etc.), much like today's German generation feels guilty about the holocaust, or the Catholics about the inquisition. This is normal. When people you normally identify with have committed crimes you had nothing to do with personally, you have this guilty feeling. But in this case, I think we're talking about class more than skin tone. There are privileged people in all ethnic groups. There's white on white violence as much as black on black violence. What we need is more justice and tolerance in our society, not race-based stereotypes.

White privilege is when a white chief of police, a white police officer and a white director of social services can ignore evidence that a 4 year old black child is being abused to the point where eventually that child is murdered.

White privilege is when a white chief of police, a white police officer and a white director of social services can ignore evidence that a 2 year old black child is being abused to the point where eventually that child is murdered.

White privilege is when a white chief of police, a white police officer and a white director of social services can ignore evidence that a black child has been raped by a white man diagnosed as having paraphiia and that white man gets away with it.

The real example of white privilege in this is that the chief of police, the police officer and the director of social services mentioned in the above 3 cases were involved in all three cases mentioned that stemmed from 1978 to 2008.

http://taylorspetition.blogspot.com/
http://exposepwc.blogspot.com/
Those two sites will show that these are not just words this is reality.

BuzzFlash is a diamond in the rough... once in a while some great original stuff comes out of it, but this wasn't one of those times. .....Wise's well meaning essay was more a useful collection of Palinisms than instances of racism or white privilege. I see these points as great examples of why we don't want any more stupid people running our governments or our schools. All sorts of people may be racists, but I suspect in America it is all about class now, more than race. .....In effect, the right wing of American politics has said "we now represent the stupid people, and will do anything, ANYTHING, to get ourselves elected and put our arch-conservative, FDR-America hating policies into place, including using under educated, anti intellectual masses of Americans as tools against themselves, even as we beat down the people who actually want to help these fools get better schools and decent doctors. .....In fact I can almost hear them saying to themselves, "I can't believe these a@@holes fell for it again." .....The good news about racism in America is that although it's still alive and well, it is well on the decline here to the point where we can have a great shot at getting a man elected who happens to be (half) black by such a great number of votes, even in the face of persistent criminal vote fraud and suppression. .....Beating racism now takes a back seat to defeating the fascist type forces of corporatism, greed. ignorance, fear and certainly racism.

For those people who don't realize that racism is still alive and well, this is the icing on the cake. Racism is more obvious now. It is done by being "politically correct". We use words like "affirmative action" as a way to redress negative effects of actual or perceived, past or current discrimination. I see this as a complete failure of the system. It's like grading on a curve. I don't subscribe to that school of thought. Excuse me, but when was the last time I illegally crossed a border or worked a vegetable field in the hot sun? When was the last time I worked an 18-hour shift at a factory for minimum wage? I never have and never will. I don't need your pity or sympathy. I don't need your approval. I don't need your pointless representation. I have the same opportunities as everyone else. On the other hand, legislation that is aimed to aid "minority" communities somehow gets overlooked. I complain, bitch, gripe, and moan because I drove a few miles to my local voting booth to cast my vote, yet when the results are tallied in we're stuck with an incompetent idiot for another four years, regardless of who wins. White privilege is the problem because we allow it. Latinos are the largest so-called minority group and we can't even get a Latino candidate for the presidency. What's wrong with that picture? Look at any map: any place in this side of the planet is primarily a Latin-based country - Mexico to Central America to South America back to Cuba and Puerto Rico - you get the point. Yet we blame the white man for our demise. What happened 500 years ago is done. The only legacy the Europeans left was the complete decimation of entire cultures of highly advanced and sophisticated peoples. All the "whites" brought was ultimately disease and death. And that is coming back. Not in the form of the influenza or the plague. The disease now is to slowly take the minority groups and turn them into consumers, consenting to the belief of the American Dream. You know the one. All it takes is MY vote. We are allowing our culture to disappear. I do find irony in the fact that most advertising is now aimed at Spanish-speaking consumers. You won't count my vote but you'll count my dollar. (I forget the source, but someone referred to the United States' paper currency as "slave owner trading cards". Ouch!) Do I think anyone cares if MY vote counts? Who is representing the Latinos on a smaller scale? In our local communities programs are forgotten. Somehow during an election year all the number crunchers remember one thing: there are 44.3 million "Mexicans" in the U.S. Let's get their vote, throw some ethnic-sounding buzzwords at them through TeleMundo... I think you know where I am going with this...

This is Your Nation on Political Correctness For those who still can't grasp the concept of political correctness, or who are looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help. Political correctness is when some white guy named Tim Wise (who has made his career based on writing and speaking about American racism) presumes to speak for black people and writes an article about "white privilege" at a historical time in our nation when, for the first time, a black man is a major party candidate for the office of President of the United States. Political correctness is when well-intentioned people send the article to all of their friends on the internet without questioning the facts and examining the claims made in the article. Political correctness is when you can get away with verbally attacking a 17-year old white girl who is pregnant out of wedlock, and turn it into a divisive argument about race, instead of addressing how the system keeps the black community down by replacing fathers with welfare checks, giving economic advantages to households without fathers, and not providing good education and safe neighborhoods. Political correctness is when you ridicule a republican woman's education because she didn't attend Ivy League schools, but ignore prominent democrats' less than stellar performance in college (Al Gore, for example was a "C" student at Harvard, flunked out of divinity school, and dropped out of law school, yet was still the VP under Clinton). Political correctness is when your successful, accomplished wife—who is the epitome of the American dream, who came from a middle class family and has two degrees (from Princeton and Harvard), whose family income is over a million dollars a year—says "For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country" and you call her patriotic. Political correctness is stoking racist sentiment about verbal attacks on community organizers, instead of doing something about the issues that make "community organizers" necessary such as substandard schools, poverty, high crime rates, etc. Political correctness is being able to convince white people who don't even know what you stand for beyond the vague concepts of "hope" and "change" to vote for you because suddenly your presence on the ticket has given them an opportunity to soothe their white guilt, or just to vote for a black man, any black man, because he's black. Political correctness is removing Muslim women wearing headscarves from sitting behind you in a rally, so that you can pander to those who erroneously think you're a Muslim. Political correctness is when you say nothing when your running mate makes racist comments about Indians, saying “You cannot go to a 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian Accent", or about blacks by describing you as “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.” Political correctness is saying that you are for equality for all, yet hiring a running mate who voted in favor of the federal ban on same-sex marriage. Political correctness is being able to have a mentor and pastor for 20 years who explained the loss of innocent men, women and children on 9/11 as "America's chickens coming home to roost" and said that blacks should sing "God Damn America." Political correctness is being able to get away with being friends with an admitted terrorist, to be involved in a shady real estate deal with a corrupt convicted criminal, and to be friends with a scholar/author who called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." To quote Obama himself "If you remain friends with people up to no good, you are bound to become like them. If you think you're above their influence, you are just fooling yourself. So, choose wisely." Political correctness is deriding Palin's interjection of her religion into politics, but praising Pelosi when she states that Obama is "a leader that God has blessed us with at this time" or Obama when he tells an evangelical crowd that "we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth." Political correctness is when a black candidate is able to sail by throughout the nomination process with immunity from political attacks from fawning journalists who were either star-struck or too afraid of being called a racist, while the white candidates, particularly Hillary Clinton, was subjected to the most intense scrutiny by the media and given hard-hitting questions. Political correctness is when a black millionaire senator and author who graduated from one of the most prestigious colleges in the world, who just held a $28,500 per plate dinner with friends Barbra Streisand and George Clooney during the worst financial crisis since the Depression, is presumed to be "just a regular guy" (he says "I'm a homeboy") while Hillary Clinton, who similarly came from middle class roots, is considered to be an elitist Washington insider snob. Political correctness is when a black candidate is given a pass by the media when he tells the nation on live tv that he is in St. Louis, when he is in fact in Kansas City. Or when he said his uncle helped liberate Auschwitz when no US troops were there at the time. Or when he stated that he had been to "57" states with "one more left to go." Or when he stated that Hugo Chavez came into power in Venezuela as a result of Bush's policies (Chavez came to power during Clinton's term). Or when he stated that 10,000 people had died in the tornado in Kansas in May, when the death toll was 12. When a white candidate makes those same types of mistakes, they are shown over and over and turned into t-shirts and bumper stickers. And finally, political correctness is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 40 percent of the time (including voting to fund the Iraq war, supporting Bush's faith-based initiatives, voting with Bush to give the telecoms immunity from prosecution and continue wiretapping US citizens), when he's been part of a do-nothing US Senate with the lowest approval rating ever for only four years (half of which he's spent campaigning) when he can't pin down exactly what that whole "change" thing means, which, ya know, is REALLY too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, political correctness, which seems to be here to say. Political correctness is, in short, the problem.

Come on people. You know who he talking about. Everytime someone speaks on race and the racism that goes on in this world you all automatically think that someone is talking about you. just because you are of the same race don't mean that you have to share the same blame. Quit making yourselves out to be guilty by race. and look at yourselves as individuals. if he is not talking about you dont assume he is. Don't be so F@#$ Naive. THINK!!!

Don't you people get it? These comments are exactly the kind of RACIAL DIVISION that republicans need on order to win this election. Are you not capable of connecting the dots????????? Keep it up and see were it gets us (ALL of us, nevermind who's got a better tan than whom).

Here's a news flash for you: If the democratic candidate were white, the republicans would not diverge from their present tactics in the slightest (as evidenced in the last two elections). It's just that in this election the Republicans haven't got a leg to stand on (nor did they, really, in the last two elections) and so they've decided to stumble through the stupidest campaign ever to have been staged in the history of the nation. Its the result of pure and simple desperation on their part. Not to mention, there's something different happening this time around: the voice of uncommon common sense eminating from a politician for the first time in our adult memories is just too difficult to pass up. Some might say its inspiring even. Obama being black doesn't have much to do with it as far as the McCain camp is concerned. Though certain individuals of the republican persuasion would like to imply to the rest of us that skin pigmentation should somehow matter. You see, one of the things that the Republicans are really good at is setting in motion these little race wars because they know that a divided nation works very much in their favor. Have you ever noticed that the "trickle down" theory when applied to economics genereally spells disaster, but when applied to social/political discourse it's quite the successful strategy for creating strife within the population? And hasn't racism really always (yes, always) been brewed at the top of the socio-political food chain and then force-fed to everybody else? So, why, I ask you... WHY... would you anti up to play the race game when we are seeing for the first time that there might be a chance for us to finally demonstrate some solidarity and possibly begin to get ahead of it, above it, beyond it? Why keep stirring the pot? Thus far, it has been said, "All whites are racist" even against their will as though they somehow can't help themselves (maybe its genetic)... Or... that "whites are only supporting Obama out of some misguided notion of "white guilt." That really doesn't help get those undecided white working class voters on Obama's team, now does it? And honestly, this kind of race baiting really is pissing me off to no end. Particularly as I've spent nearly two years arguing, fighting, yelling, and clawing at the narrowmindedness that would simply dismiss Obama as "black" - nothing more, nothing else. NO! I will not see it all undone by some arrogant jerk citing "white privelege." Obama doesn't do it - what makes you think you're helping his campaign with this crap? Why do you think all those white faces in the crowds at Obama rallies exhibit as much hope and dedication as do the black faces? Maybe you should find another angle. I for one am sick to death of hearing this kind of crap.

White privilege seems to have this lure but in the end the folks relegating this so called privilege are making sure not necessarily that it stays with white people but that it stays with them and their friends who happen to be mostly white. Plus there’s this entitlement thing going on which seems to apply only to the privileged! The policies of this current administration are helping maybe 1% of the American population, privileging themselves even more at a serious cost to 99% of the American population of all colors including white. In fact these policies are assuring that the rest of us become dis-entitled to education, to healthcare, to clean air and water and to legal recourse etc. So why are we clinging to these policies and ideals when they are hurting us; what is this almost deadly attraction and how do we end it before it’s too late? I say we start by electing a president such as Obama that will consider the rest of America when implementing policies that will sustain our society and help us regain competitive spirit with an emphasis on spirit. Actions speak louder than words and behind all action resides intention; bravely look within to face your fears and confusion to realize truth and then vote.

Instead of terrorism and alerts to scare the bejasus out of the voters and divide them, use race and keep people unaware they are racist by fogging it up. But the Waffles are pretty blatant.... A photoshopped picture of Obama in a flag print speedo and wielding an ak 47 would not be salacious to this same crowd of thirty year old males. THANK YOU FOR articulating so well. Humans have an infinite capacity for self-deception

Take it from a Greek/American who knows life all too well!1 Black privilege is when Obama can snort cocaine when he and his friends could afford it. Black privilege is when Obama would buy pot when he could not afford cocaine. Black privilege is when an angry black man shouts into a microphone that feeds the sound into loud speakers, but no Dem ever called him angry. But Howard Dean was deemed loud and rude when he shouted. The man would have won and Bush would be gone!! You dems choose poorly, I choose Dean! Black privilege is when Michele Obama turns away the poor at a community to save moeny and she gets a bonus for saving the hospital money. And people think she was a great asset to the community. Black privilege is when Obama can pretend he has foreign policy experience but has never had such experience except when he lived overseas with family and vacation travel. Black privilege is when an arrogant man like Obama can disassociate himself with Rev. Wright but he will not denounce known felon domestic terrorist Bill Ayers. Someone he harldy knows but will not denounce him??? Oh my!!! Black privilege is when a man can talk a great circle around a question without ever actually addressing the question and dems clap like they understood, yet scholars and the media still want answers. Black privilege is when Obama make reference to "whites" and not be deemed a racist. Black privilege is when Obama's vice is to continue the debt loading we know the country cannot afford. Free health insurance for all, nice plan, bad idea and even worse timing. Or is he just pandering for votes, Hillary couldn't sell it when Bill was in office and we had the money. Talk about trillion dollar nightmare healthcare, medicare, and medicade looting. And Obama wanted to raise taxes. I guess Obama didn't understand economics afterall.

You are making sterotypes! Isn't this what the black community is trying to overcome? 1. "White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your....." Would you like to be stereotyped as being black, pregnant and underage, and you are counting on your welfare check to pay for the expenses of a new family.......................... 2. "White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin’ redneck," like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot shit" Would you like to be stereotyped as a gang banger who says' if you cross me. I'll shoot YOU"? These are just a couple of examples of stereotyping. Perhaps we need to quit making these quick judgements of other races and start judging people on an individual actions. I am white, but I am not racist. I believe that all people should have the same opprtunity. Don't judge a race by a few people, unless you are willing to be judged the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where are these white people that you are refering to? I am not one of them. By the way I think Obama might be one of those folks that get white privileges because he was raised by his white mama! It depends on which group of people you are looking at it's not all white people, its not all black people. However ****it is the frame of mind found in the WHITE PRIVILEGE article that keeps people voting for McCain****. Now that I think of it there is also Black and Folks of Color(not including the color white) Privilege. Wildly painted cars with big wheels and shiny hub caps... oh well he/she just black that their way. Pants/shorts that barely stay on... he just black that his way. Black owned business owner prefers to hire black persons or persons of color and the publish it on their website as well as in their job ad. (That is affirmitive action for you) We have to hire her because she is black, we can not hire the white guy because she will go screaming "DISCRIMINATION, DISCRIMINATION", it doesn't matter that he is a better fit for the job, She's black

Rove and his cronies already were working had to identify Obama as Black>Muslim>Someone to be feared>Unpatriotic on Oct. 4, 2007, when what ABC news described as an "eagle-eyed reporter" for an affiliate in Iowa "noticed something missing from Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama's lapels." No American flag pin--gasp! This immediately became the top controversial story on ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." Republicans were quick to begin beating the "issue" to death, to reinforce their contention of Obama's lack of patriotism. It hung on in the press and was passed around on the e-mail circuit for many months--and remains a part of Internet lore. So where were all the "eagle-eyed" reporters on the 9/11 anniversary last week? Where in the days following was any even-slight mention of the fact the John McCain wore no sort of lapel pin whatsover during ceremonies at Ground Zero Sept. 11? In a large Associated Press photo by Julie Jacobson that ran in many newspapers, Senators Obama and McCAin stand side by side, heads bowed. Obama wears an American Flag lapel pin. McCain wears nothing on his lapels. I copied the photo from my biggest daily paper in my hometown's area, but can't attach it here. I can't vouch for images from TV coverage, because I didn't watch it (was afraid Snidely Giuliani would show up and begin blathering--and I didn't want to barf).--Tom Camfield in Washington State

I'm uneasy about Palin's candidacy like everyone else. But I'm equally uneasy about the lack of self-awareness on the left about its own biases, which are rooted in that same "white privilege." The fact is, whatever you think of Palin's relevant qualifications (experience, familiarity with foreign/domestic policy, etc.), PLENTY of people have trashed her intelligence on TV and in print, just because she's a grad of the U of Idaho (they usually contrast it disparagingly with Obama's Columbia BA and Harvard JD). Apparently, upper-class liberal white privilege means being allowed to scoff at a politician's Western, state-college education, while simultaneously disparaging white condescension--without irony.

I just wanted to mention something which I've seen happening recently around the country (which is to say on the Internet from people in various places). All too often, somebody who most likely will be voting for Obama/Biden starts caterwauling, "But they're gonna win! We're gonna lose!" Pick yourselves up and remember that what you think about is what you create, eventually. Of course there are no guarantees, but instead of rolling over and handing the assholes the election by treating it as a foregone conclusion, try something different – actually believe that your efforts might make a difference, and watch what happens.

I agree with all the points made by Tim Wise, and it's great to see the specifics. The pass given Palin by the corporate media is, I suppose, to be expected. I do have to admit that there has been more exposure concerning her half-truths, fabrications, and outright lies than I would have thought possible given the treatment of Obama vs McCain over the past months.

I have only one negative comment about this article: "white privilege" is not "when." One can say "white privilege is evidenced when," or "white privilege occurs when," but not "white privilege is when."

Bad or incorrect grammar, spelling,and word usage is so common in responses to articles on blogs, it's impossible to keep up with all of it. When errors occur in articles accepted by BuzzFlash and other wonderful sites, it's irritating. I just read one by Nancy Gregg in the Democratic Underground entitled "That's How it Goes, Sweetie," in which the author made the statement "...your daughter’s current state of affairs isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of your stance on abstinence-only sex education – nor is a “shotgun wedding” between she and a guy who has publicly stated his disdain for “rug rats” a model to be followed by teenagers..."

When writers don't know the difference between the subject of a sentence and the object (as in "between HER and a guy"), perhaps a little editing is in order.

I know this is nitpicking, but does it seem to anyone else that articles should consist of correct English?

As an informed voter, I've been consistently offended by this year's Republican campaign, and surprised by the hypocrisy exhibited almost daily. However, I don't think this is an example of racism, or of "white privilege". Jamie Lynn Spears pregnancy was negatively covered by conservative media outlets, war-hero John Kerry's patriotism was called into question in 2004, and religious questions have dogged everyone from JFK to Hillary Clinton. This isn't "white privilege. Instead, I would call this "Republican privilege".

Ted Sampley of the U.S. Veteran Dispatch had this to say about McCain.John Sidney McCain III entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1954. Young McCain wanted to become an admiral. He planned to be the “first son and grandson of four star admirals” to achieve such a distinction. But that was not to be. McCain III possessed none of the innate character and discipline traits that helped mold his father and grandfather into great military leaders. His father, John S. “Junior” McCain, and grandfather, John S. McCain, Sr., were famous four-star Admirals in the U.S. Navy. His father commanded U.S. forces in Europe before becoming commander of American forces fighting in Vietnam. His grandfather commanded naval aviation at the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Both men became highly influential in U.S. Navy operations. At the Academy, aside being known as a “rowdy, raunchy, underachiever” who resented authority, Midshipman McCain became infamous as a leader among his fellow midshipmen for organizing “off-Yard activities” and hard drinking parties. Robert Timberg wrote in his book, The Nightingale’s Song, that “being on liberty with John McCain was like being in a train wreck.” McCain’s grades were “marginal.” He drew so many demerits for breaking curfew and other discipline issues that he graduated fifth from the bottom of the class of 1958. Despite his low “class standing,” and no doubt because of the influence of his family of famous Admirals, McCain was leap-frogged ahead of more qualified applicants and granted a coveted slot to be trained as a navy pilot. He was a bad pilot and lost 5 Military planes costing the Navy many millions. #1 He plunged into Corpus Christi Bay. The Navy ignored that and he graduated. #2 He flew too low over the Iberian Peninsula but was promoted to flight instructor for McCain Airfield in Mississippi. (airfield named after his grandfather) #3 He crashed on his way to Philadelphia to see an Army-Navy game. The Navy deemed it “unavoidable” and assigned him to aircraft carrier USS Forrestal which was bombing Vietnam. #4 On the Forrestal when a rocket inadvertently hit his bomb laden jet, McCain escaped, but the explosions killed 134 sailors; 62 more injured and two missing and presumed dead.. #5 . Lt. Cmdr. John S. McCain III was transferred to another aircraft carrier.. #5 He was later shot down over Vietnam. He ejected and broke both arms. Dr. Phillip Butler,a Naval Academy grad spent 8 yrs as a POW and received 8 medals including 2 purple hearts. He was a POW when McCain broke his arms when he ejected from his plane. The Vietnamese did not break his arms! McCain wasn't tortured for 5 yrs. In 1969, torture stopped. Food and health care increased. Approx. 600 POWs were awarded 2,487 medals. McCain’s's father was Pacific Naval Commander and the wounded McCain was exploited in TV interviews for propaganda purposes. McCain’s heroism is now played up to further his political goals and to cloud the fact that while in the U.S. Naval Academy he broke every regulation and was a poor student. He broke every rule in the regulations but was passed through because of legacy. He received no penalties. He was privileged. With questionable experience to be a heart beat away from commander in chief,Palin is said to have a degree in either communications or journalism which has not been "vetted". I am deemed an elitist in the current atmosphere simply because I want the best brains to run this country. The U.S.issues are many and complex. Think America!!! When manager hire, experience and education are evaluated. Remember the stumbling and stuttering of DUBYA, the mispronounciation of nuclear and the "e" that Quayle wanted on the word potato before a classroom of little kids. What does it mean that we tolerate such low educational achievement from those who aspire to manage this nation and impact our lives.

Tim, your "White privilege" argument has some good points, but you miss the bigger picture: that Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Harry Reid, Jay Rockefeller, Dianne Feinstein, and dozens of other "Democratic" "leaders" have been COMPLICIT with the corporate, big-business, Neo-Con "MORE WARS, MORE police-state powers, Looted Treasury" agenda.

This COMPLICITY of the DC Democrats with the Neo-Con agenda - which IS the Right-Wing Republican agenda - means that WHOEVER the Dem. nominee is, it becomes their chore, and their task alone, to bring to America's attention ALL the atrocities, lies, corruption, and abuses of power of the Republicans and Bush-Cheney White House, whether
#1. the original sin of Stolen Election 2000, or
#2. the brown-shirt smear-job (media lynching) of the departing Clinton-Gore staffers accused of "TRASHING!" White House property... WITHOUT A SINGLE PHOTO OF EVIDENCE!;
#3. to gross dereliction of duty (if not worse) before 9-11;
#4.to first obstructing, then WHITEWASHING the 9-11 Commission;
#5. to Lies-to-War;
#6. to letting Osama bin Laden escape Tora Bora,
#7. to outing an entire CIA undercover operation to SMEAR an anti-war critic;
#8. to allowing Iraqi insurgents to loot Baghdad and Iraq's main ammunition complex (al Qaaqa),
#9. to kangaroo courts for female privates accused ONLY of "abuse" - WHILE the White House ASSERTS the "RIGHT" to TORTURE PRISONERS TO DEATH at their sole discretion;
#10. to Ken Lay and massive Enron FRAUD,
#11. to Jack Abramoff BRIBING CONGRESS,
#12. to VP Cheney's Chief of Staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby PERJURY and OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, which perjury & obstruction ENABLED
#13. the Bush-Cheney camapaign to STEAL election 2004 in Ohio;
#14. to PURGE-GATE, the turning the US Justice Department into a racketeering and intimdidation enforcement arm of the Republican Party;
#15. to Alberto Gonzales' PERJURY testifying about that scandal;
#16. to AG Mukasey enabling ILLEGAL SURVIELLIANCE and WHITEWSHING purge-gate;
#17. to Cheney CONTINUING TO PROFIT from his HALLIBURTON STOCK OPTIONS, which go up with every billion-dollar NO BID, NO OVERSIGHT CONTRACT he hands to Halliburton;
#18. to the attempted sale of US PORTS to a Dubai, state KNOWN TO HAVE SYMPATHIES with SUNNI FUNDAMENTALIST groups, which in turn have known ties to terrorist groups;
#19. to MASSIVELY FRAUDULENT WAR CONTRACTS;
#20. to GROSS INCOMPETENCE BEFORE Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, & GROSS CORRUPTION in New Orleans & Gulf Coast rebuilding contracts;
#21. to KARL ROVE _SCORNING_ Congressional Subpoenas -

The above of course only a PARTIAL list - we haven't listed Cheney's 2001 "Secret Energy Task Force", the $17 trillion, SEVENTEEN TRILLION DOLLARS of Bush-2 DEFICITS; or the massive "BURROW & SPEND", aka DEFICIT ECONOMICS, of the Neo-Con/Republican Right-Wing, or the reliance on MERCENARIES ("contractors") in the US invasion/occuption of Iraq, a practise that was specifically CONDEMNED - by the signers of the Declaration of Independence against King George III of England!

The DEMOCRAT "leadership" HAS HELPED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY _WHITWASH_ and drive from the front pages EVERY ONE OF THESE MAJOR SCANDALS.... even though Abramoff, Ken Lay, and Scooter Libby CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS ALL INVOLVED CLOSE CONTACT with the Bush-Cheney White House!! Indeed, in doing NOTHING to OVERSEE all the MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR BAILOUTS, and even VP Cheney BUYING HIMSELF A WAR IN GEORGIA (With ONE BILLION US taxpayer dollars) - NANCY PELOSI & her CONGRESS HAVE become the PAYMASTERS of EVERY Republican outrage, scandal, and criminal atrocity!

With the Democrat "leaders" DOING REPUBLICAN WHITEWASHING and CHECK-WRITING FOR THEM, there is NO WAY a Democratic presidential candidate can TAKE ON ALL - or ANY of these issues - without seeming like a quack!

Nancy Pelosi & her clueless, cowering, corrupted DC Democrats could well be THE END OF American DEMOCRACY, and the start of the Iran war and final stages of US economic meltdown & international oil crisis.

If it were Condie Rice (or Justice Thomas)and not Sara Palin and Mark Udall and not Barak Obama, but all the other histories, and minds the same as those running, there would be few differences from what we have now in terms of what Mr Wise outlined.

I am not saying that there is not real Racism, Conde Rice would have had a hard time trying to live in Wasilla much less becoming Mayor, but the majority of the points made are certainly not granted to all "whites" but are granted to any of the Gang Of Pirates, most of whom are "white" but not all.

By Framing it as "White Privilege" you provide fodder to the GOP who will be no doubt sending it to all their redneck suckers who will give the GOP slavish support out of fear that they will be losing all the "privileges" they never had and will never get from the list, except as prominent Republicans.

Redneck America is in pain like never before, enough that there is (or certainly was) more support there for Obama than there was for Kerry, or Gore. The MSM and GOP (not redneck America)cranked up every sleazy trick available to divide off all that they could and this does more to assist that then provide light.

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If the Gang Of Pirates think that the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat, only a fool would think it bipartisan to accommodate them by acting the part.

This article on White Privilege is excellent. I have been fortunate in making my way as I can through life. I have had my small share of barriers but have managed to overcome them. Some were in part due to my being Gay and the people in power being old school heterosexual homophobes. But these were overcome. I really can't imagine the difficulty as a Black man or other ethnic group and the obvious difficulty that must be faced, always disguised in some other "reason". Palin is being givin the white woman free-ride in this case. She's a striving female political neophyte who has garnered the attention of the right-wing elite who have decided to take her under their wing and escort her through the political minefields that face priarily male politicians. Barack has no political force field as Palin is being provided and is facing the constant barrages of racist-classist strongholds across the nation. As should be, Palin must face the very exact same scrutiny as any male political candidate and thus face the same heat. The "lipstick" tag is nothing more than repulsican right-wing diversionary tactics. Palin, in reality is such a lackey, political "good-old-boy" as to make the predecessors she so condemns blush with envy.

Funny how this issue has been invisible to white people until one of our own pointed it out. Does anybody here remember Malcolm? He died for speaking this truth. White privilege has been "invisible" to white people because we have never not had it. That any white person would deny its existence today is only a sign that the disease of racism is still thriving in this land. How tragic for all of us.

Excellent article!!! Wise puts my scattered thoughts into a cohesive piece that makes sense. It's heartwarming to see all the good comments here that give even more perspective.

'White Privilege' stole this country and raped the Native Americans. Had they respected these highly evolved people and joined forces with them, this could have been a great nation. Native American philosophy is far more simple to understand, and far greater in its scope than Christianity. But more important is for the people to actually live by their philosophy, rather than just hang it as a sign to prove one's goodness.

If White America - those who believe they are privileged - would turn back to the Native Indians, start from scratch and learn what they missed about these great people who are the TRUE LEADERS OF THIS NATION, there may be hope of healing America. Arrogance + Ego = Fear...our great threats. The White Privileged have had fools for teachers.

Ancient Indian Proverb

If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace...

Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow.

All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. The Earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it....

Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself, and I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.

Heinmot Tooyalaket ( Chief Joseph), Nez Perce Leader

Native American Philosophy

The difference of the black experience and the white has been with us for so many years. To try to ignore it or say it's not that way any more is to either be naive or delusional.

Having been "White" for about a half a century now, I have to say I've not experienced any of the "privilege" outlined in this article. I find it totally insulting that the color of my skin is being used to associate me with individuals of the power hungry elite, whom which I abhor.

I get where this article is going, and it does bring to light a number of injustices, but the motivations have nothing to do with race or color, but are driven by greed, lust for power and control, and an extreme lack of morals and empathy for others. That has NOTHING to do with RACE or COLOR.

Please get off the race thing eh? After all "A-holes come in ALL colors." Peace...

If you're not familiar with Tim Wise, you really need to seek out his writings and recordings. He is never less than exciting and brilliant. Bravo, my friend!

If only the Obama family had Sarah Palin's family problems, the Rovian machine would be celebrating with fireworks. Hell, by now, they'd be saying for certain that the little baby Trig was the Obama daughter's first baby and now another one on the way! Hypocrisy and lying and smearing are just a way of life for them.

Racism, sexism, and classism have always been part of our culture. If Hillary Clinton were running instead of Sarah Palin, she would be attacked viciously to activate the mysogynist base. If John Edwards were running, he would be attacked for his wealth (remember the $400 haircut?). However, if Colin Powell were running, he would be shown deference. Same with Condi Rice. It's more about the power brokers who run the government and the media and who control vast sums of money deciding who the "outsider of the day" is.

Translating the White Privilege codetalkers for the rest of us. Tim Wise decodes the racist speech that dare not say Nigger. "Humans have an infinite capacity for self-deception"