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Post by swankivy on Feb 18, 2011 23:31:06 GMT -5
You Have a Right
Name a right, privilege, or opportunity you possess solely because of your circumstances of birth. Now name a right, privilege, or opportunity you feel you've been denied based on circumstances of birth. (Any situation can be discussed; for example, sex, race, able-bodiedness, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religion, attractiveness, national origin; any majority/privileged group or minority/disadvantaged group can be brought up for this question.)
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Post by SHO! on Feb 25, 2011 9:03:31 GMT -5
I have tons of rights and freedoms that people in many other countries don't have. I didn't get tested to deem myself worthy, didn't have to swim a river or brave dangers and inhuman/humiliating circumstances, or anything even remotely like that. I just happened to be born in Philadelphia.
I am constantly and consistently worried about being dehumanized and victimized, but not just from criminals, but also from the authorities that people rely on to protect them from criminals. I am constantly aware that any cop, on a bad day, can do something completely horrible and unjustified to me, that because of the color of my skin he can easily get away with it, and worse, he is aware of all of that too. I've never committed a crime worse than jaywalking or loitering in my life, but I have had many run-ins with police officers that yanked me aside, questioned me, felt me up, and/or ordered me off the streets, to go home, or to leave an "area in which I didn't belong" and all parties involved knew there was nothing I could do about it. When I hear sirens I'm never the relieved settler thinking, "Ah good, the calvary's coming!" I'm always the Native American wondering if I'm about to die pointlessly and if my murderers will go unpunished... or even be celebrated as heroes.
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