Quote:
Originally Posted by TripSin
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I'm pretty sure Dr. King would make a distinction between shining a black man's shoes and burning a cross in that man's yard.
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Not if the behaviors were based solely on a person's race or identity, which is why he emphasized content of character.
The point is to treat everyone universally with dignity and respect based upon their humanity. Not based upon the melanin content in their skin, what gender they have sex with, or if they underwent a procedure to modify their genitalia.
Whether the treatment is positive or negative doesn't matter. People who modify their treatment of others (good or bad / preferential / deferential) based upon characteristics such as race or sexual preference are in fact the bigots themselves.
The preferential treatment may make you feel better about yourself and give you a sense of moral superiority over others, but you are hurting the people you think you are trying to help and stagnating their ability to develop and grow. You are essentially putting them in a box based upon their identity with no way out.
You don't allow them to develop as human beings outside of their identity, so they can never truly grow and overcome adversity. Overcoming adversity builds character. It builds self esteem.
Adversity can be defined in many different ways. Maybe you have a learning disorder. Maybe you grew up poor. Maybe you grew up without a mother or father. By facing these challenges and overcoming them, it builds character and prepares you for success.