Steve, I think you misread Mrs. C’s comment. She referred to “our unfortunate skin and caste divisions.” Not unfortunate skin; unfortunate divisions over skin. And she’s right that those divisions are (unfortunately) real, in a way that divisions over eye color or left- or right-handedness are not. They shouldn’t be; they’re based on sup…
Steve, I think you misread Mrs. C’s comment. She referred to “our unfortunate skin and caste divisions.” Not unfortunate skin; unfortunate divisions over skin. And she’s right that those divisions are (unfortunately) real, in a way that divisions over eye color or left- or right-handedness are not. They shouldn’t be; they’re based on superficial divisions that shouldn’t matter; but for too many people they are a reality that we need to work to overcome. I think Mrs. C’s heart is in the right place, and you’ve been unfair in your reaction to her.
"I think Mrs. C’s heart is in the right place, and you’ve been unfair in your reaction to her."
Yeah, Erica had a similar impression. I have the advantage of having had other conversations with Mrs. C and understanding where she's coming from a bit more clearly. But even without that, I think the phrasing is far too telling to simply be talking about divisions.
As I said to Erica, it would be odd to hear a woman talking about the "unfortunate fact of her femininity", no? There's a difference between recognising the problem of bigotry and lamenting the parts of yourself that the bigots attack.
That said, how was my reaction unfair? I don't think it was particularly forceful at all.
Steve, I think you misread Mrs. C’s comment. She referred to “our unfortunate skin and caste divisions.” Not unfortunate skin; unfortunate divisions over skin. And she’s right that those divisions are (unfortunately) real, in a way that divisions over eye color or left- or right-handedness are not. They shouldn’t be; they’re based on superficial divisions that shouldn’t matter; but for too many people they are a reality that we need to work to overcome. I think Mrs. C’s heart is in the right place, and you’ve been unfair in your reaction to her.
"I think Mrs. C’s heart is in the right place, and you’ve been unfair in your reaction to her."
Yeah, Erica had a similar impression. I have the advantage of having had other conversations with Mrs. C and understanding where she's coming from a bit more clearly. But even without that, I think the phrasing is far too telling to simply be talking about divisions.
As I said to Erica, it would be odd to hear a woman talking about the "unfortunate fact of her femininity", no? There's a difference between recognising the problem of bigotry and lamenting the parts of yourself that the bigots attack.
That said, how was my reaction unfair? I don't think it was particularly forceful at all.