George W. Bush’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather Was a Slave Trader

[branford]

201. We are having a discussion on "Democratic Underground,"

a forum exclusively for members of the Democratic Party and those who support its ideas and goals.

You have repeatedly accused me of conservatism and other decidedly non-Democratic ideas and positions. My reference to the party platform and the acceptance of my positions universally, particularly among our own party and other liberals, is simply to demonstrate to you that your implications are false and insulting. I would suggest you consider that my ideas are not conservative, but rather your ideas just might represent the very far left of our party and beyond. You've read many of the responsive posts in this thread (and, I assume, the similar Cumberpatch thread), and I'm hardly alone, even here where active left of the party is very well represented.

I also repeatedly cite the ever decreasing popularity and acceptance of some of your ideas to note the near impossibility of their practical implementation, even if I were suddenly to agree with all your views (and also because our discussion began when you challenged the notion that reparations were unpopular). We live in the world of the possible.

Additionally, I already stated that I believe we all have a responsibility as citizens of the county, a "collective responsibility" if you prefer the term, to end discrimination in our society, racial and otherwise, by all appropriate legal means and ensure opportunity for all. The fact that I've actively engaged in ending discrimination, both politically and professionally, places me clearly to the left of clear majority of the population. If you do not believe such ideas and activism makes me suitably compassionate or empathetic, that's not only unfortunate, but you must think the world full of virtually no one but trolls and ogres.

Lastly, I cite my religious and ethnic background primarily to show that talking about "whites" as on near lock-step and indistinguishable group is inaccurate, contrary to history, and morally no better than judging anyone solely on the color of their skin. The definition of white in privilege and similar discussions has become little more than "relatively successful non-blacks," and is alienating, unhelpful and contextually, often offensive. If you discuss racism in the context of "white culture," without examination of individual circumstance and achievements, both historically and now, and then demand it change, it is the very definition of "collective guilt," regardless of your or others intentions, and I would posit why such ideas are largely the province of academics and far-left activists, and more importantly, decreasingly popular even among individuals like myself who are fairly liberal and actively oppose discrimination.