One of my friends (an actual friend, not just a Facebook friend) told me this week that I have nothing to worry about from a Trump president, seeing as how I’m a straight, white male and all. Basically, I was told that my white privilege would save me. In a week where I’ve been called many names based on my vote, this is the only one that really made me mad. One of the concepts so widely pushed by the left that makes me the maddest is that of some sort of privilege based on skin color, gender, or whatever. I hate it. It makes me crazy!
But I’ve been thinking about it, and honestly, I am privileged in a lot of ways, but not the way that my friend meant. Here’s what I mean.
I am privileged to have been raised by two loving parents that worked their butts off to provide us with everything we needed and a lot of stuff we just wanted.
I am privileged to have had great educators that were willing to share their knowledge about their subject and life in general.
I am privileged to have had the opportunity to work my butt off to educate myself and pursue a career that I love.
I am privileged to be married to an amazing lady that has supported me always, no matter how stupid the decision!
I am privileged to be the father of a great daughter and have the challenge of raising her to be a decent person.
I am privileged to get to work my butt off in a career that challenges me every day. I am privileged to have the scars, callouses, bad knees, sore shoulders, and gray hair that go with it.
I have the privilege of having a mortgage, a car payment, and a kid that is going to need braces and will be going to college before I know it.
I am privileged to live in a country where I have the opportunity to do these things. I am privileged that so many have been willing to sacrifice to protect that opportunity.
None of these things is the result of my skin color or gender. I had the privilege of putting in the work to capitalize on that opportunity. Don’t come at me with any ‘white male privilege’ crap. Because here’s the truth of the matter. We ALL have that privilege, if you’ll get past the excuses and just take it.
Well said, Paul. It’s time for less talk and more action.
It seems like I ought to have something to add to this but I think Paul covered it pretty good. I would just reinforce the idea that every person in this country, no matter their gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or whatever challenges They may have, has the very same privilege to get out there and try or fail according to their own reasonable goals and willingness to work toward those goals, bearing in mind there are no guarantees in this life.