I love handbags

[antigone382]

120. My point is that we need to point out how obscene our own purchases are globally.

In a context of rapidly declining resources, it does matter in absolute terms. As a first worlder I would hardly claim to be there yet, but I'm making my way with every fiber of my being, because nobody else should have to live the way I have had to live--or the very much worse ways that the majority of people on this planet have to live. I agree with you that many posters do not get beyond their perspectives as Americans in what they perceive as acceptable levels of consumption, or even as acceptable solutions to our economic problems. If pointing out the insanity of our consumption levels starts with the handbag choices of the wealthy, then that is one starting point for a conversation about resource consumption. If that particular starting point also causes people to question whether anybody should have the disposable income to purchase such a handbag in the first place, then that is also an acceptable starting point for a conversation about class.

At the same time, this incident should ALSO be a starting point for a conversation about the reality and the pervasiveness of racial discrimination. I empathize very much with Oprah's experience of humiliation based on her race. I also don't know how anyone could have even a cursory familiarity with the demographics of poverty or the criminal "justice" system and conclude that a few wealthy people of color negate the overall picture of racial oppression.

ALL of these conversations need to happen desperately, and my goal is to follow, support, and contribute to them however they arise.