Verdict on Iran

So, Iran is experiencing some social division over their recent election. The news hails this as a sign of good for the future of Iran and it's government. Part of me is in agreement, but another part of me is sceptical. This is certainly not the first time that the U.S. has had some vested interest in the outcome of an election, war, or conflict in the Middle East. Usually, our hope for the outcome is that which supports our hope for continued hegemony in the area and the protection of our petroleum based interests. So, forgive me if I'm not all excited and pumped for the internal conflict going on. 

I'm not saying that I support the current regime. It is plenty reprehensible for injustices it has committed. But in looking at the current regime and their attitudes towards the U.S., isn't it only fair to judge their attitudes and actions in context to their history with us?

After 9/11, there were a slew of conservatives digging into the Koran for proof that Islam was a violent, hateful religion, and that "these people" were just "that way". Liberals kept wanting to learn more about Muslims and their culture to understand the radical actions. What troubled me was not the focus on Islam for good or bad reasons, but the lack of focus on our actions that may have contributed to a mindset. There was no slew of academics or cultural movement to study our past in the Middle East, our support of regimes, and our moves to maintain hegemony in the region. 

The U.S., from the backing of the installing of the Shah, to the propping up and taking down of Saddam, to almost unconditional backing of Zionist Israel, has had it's hands in the Middle East for decades. Has the U.S. been so mentally vacant as to assume that there is something 'wrong in THEIR culture' and not ours? Do we share none of the blame and therefore none of the responsibility to change? 

In calling three countries an Axis of Evil that must be stopped, invading one, and then acting hostile to the others, are we to be suddenly shocked and indignant over the latter two's actions of self-defense in their arms industry? Again, I am not condoning nuclear proliferation, but rather attempting to open up honest discourse on our actions and our policy in regards to other countries. If we can't look at ourselves honestly, how can we honestly and fairly judge the actions of others? Not doing so is a recipe for problems, as far as I'm concerned. 

The U.S. should take up more personal responsibility for it's own actions and policies that may have lead to current conditions. Im glad Americans, not to mention our President, want to stay out of Iran's conflict. However, because I'm aware of our lack of self-reflection, I'm suspicious as to what our inaction and support really signifies. 

Misconceptions

One of the biggest misconceptions I think Whites have about 'White Privilege' is the whole idea of what is meant by 'privilege'. I gather this in that one of the most common responses I have to the idea is "But, we didn't have a lot of money!" or something to that tune. This is a response to a charge of class privilege that has been thrown into a different discussion as a red herring, whether intentional or not.

Of course not all whites are wealthy. Such a statement is indeed ludicrous. So then, if not all Whites are wealthy, and there are of course wealthy minorities, how can one say Whites have racial privilege over minorities in America?

Simple: People tend to compete in society amongst those in their own wealth class. 

If there is a poor white man and a rich black man, chances are the latter of the two is looking for a job in a different part of the city (or state/country) than the former. So here, class differences do not matter. It's a question of whether or not a rich white man coming into play with the rich black man has any bearing on the outcome of competition.

Another misconception is that after confronting an owning up to Whiteness/White Privilege, whites seek to absolve themselves of their bad feelings by saying "I renounce my privilege!"

You see, just because one isn't a signatory doesn't mean one isn't a beneficiary. Whites can't wish away their privileges by acting nice, "going ethnic" (whatever that means), or some other seemingly altruistic act of multiculturalist goodness. 

Scratch that. There is ONE privilege Whites can give up, but seldom do: the privilege to remain silent about racism and let minorities handle it. 

Whites have the ability to ignore racism and those who fight it. This is a rather large privilege that they can throw off. Simply? No. Gradually? Of course. 

Stereotypes: The fault of those being stereotyped. Right.

So I’m standing in my department at work with a fellow employee. He is of Mexican-American descent. A white female customer approaches him with some questions about a product we carry and he gladly answers, then proceeding to hold a few minutes long conversation with her.

Towards the end of the conversation, my employee friend is asked by this woman whether he can translate some Spanish that is written on a product for her. He says “No”, since he does not speak Spanish.

Blown away at the fact that this brown-skinned, Mexican-American descended young man , she replies in a more than surprised tone, “You DON’T?! Are you serious? Why not?” This is asked due to the interruption of her preconceived notion that all brown folks with Hispanic heritage ought to be able to spout off Spanish to meet her requests.

She then goes on to brag about how she is learning Spanish and how he “really ought to start”, appropriating his cultural priorities for him because she deems it necessary for all brown skinned Hispanics to know Spanish, since that's the preconception she has formed in her mind. I then step forward, translate the product phrase for her (as I am a fluent speaker myself, perhaps the person she was seeking instead) and watch her wish us "Good day" with a somewhat smug smile of self-satisfaction on her face. 

This is White Privilege. She makes a sweeping generalization, a stereotype, and when it is proven wrong, it is the fault of the generalized person and it is on them to change. Non-whites must be given critiques to fit into the mold of how Whites see society and the world at large. This is a situation that even wealthy, well-to-do dark-skinned Hispanics do not often escape.