There is a radio commercial airing regionally here advocating fair housing practices, i.e., non-discrimination against rental applicants. All well and good, until you actually listen to it.
Does anyone see the illogic inherent in this approach to seeking social justice?
I understand your logic - but I don't think I agree with it. To know what i really think - i'd have to know who made the PSA - funded by whom - why - and whatever host of others questions that all brought up.
On the surface of it, though, it goes back to the Arnold vs the 97 pound weakling thing to me.
On Martha's Vineyard - there is an histrionically black neighborhood (I believe it is known as "the Oval") - i'm not talking about modern star-studded enclaves - this place has been here for over a cenetury and was built by educated upper middle class African Americans for vacation homes. (again this brings up the issue of back-lash. there was a - sadly short - period in our history between the emaciation proclamation and the overt institution of Jim Crow laws. Laws that were instituted for the purpose of insulting Blacks - like "you gotta sit at the back of the bus") When there really was progress in education, jobs and such for many many people who had not had that opportunity previously. the Oval was built during that time. it's not utterly unique, but it IS rare. I'd like to see places like that preserved as much as possible. That's not the same thing as asking any of the thousands of gated and primarily white communities in our country to consider their demographic, and broaden it.
That said, I have seen things like this taken to the absurd. Hurley anecdotal,and personal to me, but the quickest example i can come up with:
I worked for an agency that was having money issues. the union was debating the issue of - were lay-off to come - would we stand for "last hired first fired" or something that took affirmative action into account. i said, as i so often do (being the one who often comes down so firmly on both sides of any given fence that i have a picket stuck permanently up my ass) "it depends - give me an example" - well - someone (who happened to be my superior - but not, technically "management" - oh happy day) got personal. She told me that because she was a Jewish lesbian, and I a straight WASP -- that her job should be more carefully guarded than mine.
Lord how I wish she would have been more general. I got THE CONCEPT - but damn, this woman had a BA and an MSW - all paid for by Daddy. I had nothing but a few courses, a school loan on the verge of default, and some experience. My family was too large to support me. I was poor as a church mouse, and my job included housing. Were i to lose my job, i would be without a home OR income. SHE owned her home, with her partner who also had a good job. We live in an area where Jews are common, antisemitism is rare, and we have the highest per-capita population of lesbians in the nation. Besides all that, her comment was nothing but snark, since she had seniority over me anyway. And, she clearly felt this PERSONALLY. it was not just an easy example.
I'll leave you to imagine my reaction.
The point is, no broad legislation will care for individuals. Sadly, it does not work that way. and, it sounds like your PSA example was asking people to act out of their own largess - not forcing anything on them, though I may be quite wrong.
i'm also quite exhausted with this - which is no one's fault but my own. I made my general sentiments clear many posts ago but kept typing anyway.
My apologies.
