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One problem I see with that outlook is that it is like looki
Posted on: November 22, 2017 at 16:42:00 CT
JeffB MU
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ng at a snapshot rather than having a longer historical perspective that gives a better idea of how and why the photograph came out as it did.
Also, even if your assertions are accurate, they are looking at things in general rather than from an individual's perspective.
I think if you or I or pretty much anyone else was born black, in poverty, to a single mother with a poor education and a drinking or drug problem in a crime ridden neighborhood, with pathetic schools, we wouldn't stand much of a chance of achieving a middle class or better standard of living and a stable family life.
In one sense we have a level playing field... certainly better than when slavery or even overt racism was the societal standard. But in another sense it is ridiculous to think that we all have even close to an equal start in life and similar chances of success.
Yes, it is true that poor choices are mostly responsible for the final end result, but many of the dynamics already in play for a newborn child coming into the world are the results of choices made by other people. I think it is also very true that it is far easier for a middle class white kid living in a stable family in a good, safe neighborhood with good schools to make good choices than it is for many kids growing up in the ghetto with bad to horrible role models for the most part, teachers who don't care or who have given up, or who themselves have been poorly taught about the skills necessary for attaining and keeping "the good life".
What do you think your odds would be of achieving what you have or something close to it if you "born black, in poverty, to a single mother with a poor education and a drinking or drug problem in a crime ridden neighborhood, with pathetic schools". If no one taught you right from wrong, or barely did so, and most of the role models you saw made very bad choices, what are your odds of consistently making good choices throughout your life... starting as that poor child, with poor nutrition & little or no mentoring?
Yes, one could reasonably point to major cultural problems, but is that child responsible for the culture he or she was born into? Is it his or her fault for the cultural norms that existed before he or she was born? Should we expect that child to recognize any cultural faults that his or her family and friends and all role models have bought into? I think that is expecting an awful lot of any child.
I think that comparing the good and bad choices of children born in drastically different circumstances is not fair to the disadvantaged child... at least without taking into account the differences in upbringing and the different circumstances they faced while growing up.
Edited by JeffB at 16:48:08 on 11/22/17
Also, even if your assertions are accurate, they are looking at things in general rather than from an individual's perspective.
I think if you or I or pretty much anyone else was born black, in poverty, to a single mother with a poor education and a drinking or drug problem in a crime ridden neighborhood, with pathetic schools, we wouldn't stand much of a chance of achieving a middle class or better standard of living and a stable family life.
In one sense we have a level playing field... certainly better than when slavery or even overt racism was the societal standard. But in another sense it is ridiculous to think that we all have even close to an equal start in life and similar chances of success.
Yes, it is true that poor choices are mostly responsible for the final end result, but many of the dynamics already in play for a newborn child coming into the world are the results of choices made by other people. I think it is also very true that it is far easier for a middle class white kid living in a stable family in a good, safe neighborhood with good schools to make good choices than it is for many kids growing up in the ghetto with bad to horrible role models for the most part, teachers who don't care or who have given up, or who themselves have been poorly taught about the skills necessary for attaining and keeping "the good life".
What do you think your odds would be of achieving what you have or something close to it if you "born black, in poverty, to a single mother with a poor education and a drinking or drug problem in a crime ridden neighborhood, with pathetic schools". If no one taught you right from wrong, or barely did so, and most of the role models you saw made very bad choices, what are your odds of consistently making good choices throughout your life... starting as that poor child, with poor nutrition & little or no mentoring?
Yes, one could reasonably point to major cultural problems, but is that child responsible for the culture he or she was born into? Is it his or her fault for the cultural norms that existed before he or she was born? Should we expect that child to recognize any cultural faults that his or her family and friends and all role models have bought into? I think that is expecting an awful lot of any child.
I think that comparing the good and bad choices of children born in drastically different circumstances is not fair to the disadvantaged child... at least without taking into account the differences in upbringing and the different circumstances they faced while growing up.
Edited by JeffB at 16:48:08 on 11/22/17
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One problem I see with that outlook is that it is like looki - JeffB MU - 11/22 16:42:00