Things that I am ashamed of:

[byrok]

“Sometimes”

I am a caucasian
I am heterosexual
I am a male
I am a citizen of the United States


There are more, but these are the ones that seem to bother me the most. When I look at what “white, male, heterosexual” people have done, at times, to people of color, women, and LGBT people, it just makes me so ashamed to be what I am.

I’m certainly not trying to say that all caucasian, heterosexual males are to blame for all the ills of the world. It’s just that every time I see the images and hear the stories of what has been done, and what still is being done to so many people, I personally feel shame. Extreme anger first, but inevitably, shame.

What the hell is wrong with this world? Why can’t everybody just get up everyday and just do the best that they can for themselves and the people that they love without having to hurt others to do it? Why can’t we just let people be people?

I have been here everyday for a long time, just reading. I post very little, but I’m here everyday. I often times share my favorite posters with my wife, especially NG. Love you.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. There are a number of things that you should be ashamed of that you're totally missing.

[Warpy]

2. All those are an accident of birth

and it's what you've done with them that counts.

You don't have to be ashamed of anything but your actions.

[newscott]

3. Hell I fell like I won the lottery. It's how we behave that counts.

[seabeyond]

4. i wouldnt be ashamed. but i cerainly recognize and acknowledge the advantages i have

the privileges i have, that others dont, because of what i was born with.

i think, at the very least, acknowledging and recognizing allows us to interact and behave in a manner that is helpful and healing, a positive to what we do have, simply because of what we were born with.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear byrok...

You need not be ashamed of being those things...

Those are a result of your being born, of the accident of birth.

Just because you're a white, heterosexual American male is no reason in and of itself to be ashamed.

Because YOU are more than those things.

Be proud of you, of your accomplishments!

Anyone who condemns you because of those attributes has got it all wrong. You are more than those attributes...

K&R

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. I am all of those things and am ashamed by none of them.

There is not a single demographic in the world that has not committed some kind of atrocity. Humans are savage animals. Knowing this, I work within my own capacity to right the ills of the world, whether they were committed by the hands of humans that look like I do or not. That is all anyone can do, and the world would be a better place if we all did as much. Shame (and by extension, pride) should only be felt because of actions set forth by your own hand.

[grantcart]

7. did you cause yourself to be white, hetro or male?

If your ashamed of your American citizenship then you can solve that easily enough by renouncing it and moving abroad.

For the record I prefer to live abroad but I don't have any allusions that the other countries that I have deep affection for are any less screwed up than the US.

[proteus_lives]

8. I've never been ashamed of being any of those things.

"When I look at what “white, male, heterosexual” people have done, at times, to people of color, women, and LGBT people, it just makes me so ashamed to be what I am."

Replace all those words with "human". Humans do that to each other.

You should just be ashamed of being human if you're determined to be ashamed about something.

[elocs]

9. I am not ashamed of things I did not choose.

I did not choose to be a Caucasian, a white person.

I did not choose to be heterosexual.

I did not choose to be a male.

I did not choose to be a citizen of the United States.

[Regret My New Name]

10. I'm ashamed that I pick my nose and eat my burgers when no one is looking...

and sometimes when I know people are looking (it's exciting in a kinky sort of way)

[Initech]

11. I quote the late great Frank Zappa:

"Hey you know something people? I'm not black but there's a whole lot ofvtimes I wish I could say I'm not white!"

[slackmaster]

12. I'm proud of being all of those things, and of not doing any of the bad things you attributed to us.

:hi:

[Ron Green]

13. I think shame and guilt are useful, but must be balanced with

joy and thanks. Main thing is to forgive yourself, forgive the world and do the best you can.

[bigwillq]

14. You had no choice with three of those things

I wouldn't be ashamed. Not much you can do about it. You are who you are.