#49: No More Discrimination (PART 11)

​【Traditional Privilege】
Proudly showcasing the handsome facade of justice on the surface, while slyly hiding the ugly intentions of preserving injustice. That is, suppressing the hidden tensions that already exist, only to present Order on the outside. It’s because we, knowingly or not, presume that the majority gets to decide the norm and what’s common sense, and that the minority has no choice but to acquiesce.
 
Ever since the ancient times, our society has baked in such preferential treatment for the majority group – a traditional privilege.
 
And when we see into the future along the path of that traditional privilege, we come to realize that the demographics will surely tip it over. That is, the majority will eventually join the minority and thereby lose the traditional privilege. Perhaps, it’s the fear of such inevitable outcome that fuels the anxiety of the fading majority to fight tooth and nail against it at all costs.
 
For countries such as Japan, where nearly 98% of the population is comprised of the Japanese race, that future still appears so far in the distant future. Nonetheless, a traditional privilege is so deeply rooted in its culture that it can’t be ignored.
 
On the contrary, for countries such as the US, that future is already at our doorstep. Back when racial discrimination was abhorrent in the 1960’s, the US population was comprised of 85% White American – today, it’s 63%. And it’s now widely predicted that White Americans will join the minority groups within a generation or so, making America a country comprised of only minority races.
 
Today, Hawaii is the only US state comprised of only minority races. No wonder the Aloha State is proudly known not only for its beautiful beaches and nature, but also for its diversity and tolerance. Naturally, a paradise is made of acceptance and love.
 
Yet, when we revisit the history of humanity, we come across the dark chapters of racism including white supremacy. And it’s a terrible truth that the ugly scraps from those darkest days are still promoted in this day and age by the Trump Administration and its enablers – whether it be the deportation of immigrants, the denial of asylum seekers, or the voter suppression. Nevertheless, in midst of this shameful reversal of the history back multiple generations, many American citizens and states – who truly support the principles of humanitarian aid and human rights – resist such racism and bigotry.
 
For example, many people of El Salvador and Honduras – Central American countries gripped by one of the highest intentional homicide rates in the world – desperately flee from their homes leaving everything behind. They didn’t do anything wrong. They’re just born there, just like you and I were just born here. The only difference is that we’re lucky and they weren’t – to be born into such difficulty where life is at a constant danger.
 
In hopes of safety and a better life, the displaced people walk thousands of miles on their tired feet without much food or water, many losing their lives on their way. And at last they reach America, once a beacon of hope and freedom for the asylum seekers – only to find the cruel border agents of the Trump Administration caging babies and children, separating them from parents and guardians, calling them the “Invaders.”
 
Cruelty isn’t only at the borders – discrimination extends well into the heart of the nation even against fellow Americans. For instance, voters are suppressed just because they live in districts heavily populated by minorities, or districts mired in poverty. In such districts, eligible voters are prevented from exercising our right to vote by closing many polling places, which result in the voters having to travel an extra few hundred miles just to cast a ballot. Moreover, such districts are often underfunded and furnished with fewer voting machines or old ones that break down more often, all of which result in longer lines and wait times to cast a ballot.
 
People struggling in poverty are especially vulnerable, because they often don’t own a car. And because these polling places in such districts often aren’t easily accessible via public transportation, people without a car must pre-arrange other means of transportation to and from. In addition, a pre-arrangement is also required in the form of voter registration and ID, which present high hurdles especially for those struggling in poverty.  
 
And even when all these prerequisites are fortunately met, on the day of the election, it could take up to 3 hours to travel to the polling place, and up to 8 more hours standing in line outside of the polling station to cast a ballot – not to mention a ride back. It seems as though in almost every election, we come across these horror stories of people standing long hours in the miserable rain on a very cold November afternoon just to exercise our right to vote.
 
What’s more, Election Day in the US is set as a Tuesday in November, and it’s not a designated federal holiday. As such, many people, especially those who live paycheck to paycheck, must miss work without pay, and spend a maximum 14 hours to travel and back from the polling places including the wait in line, in order to exercise our right to vote. No wonder so many people who live in such districts can’t spend that kind of time, and are thereby effectively disenfranchised. The government of the self-proclaimed “World Champion of Democracy” shouldn’t be doing this to their people.
 
Yet, in any country, a discriminatory policy is never advertised as such. No administration admits to We’re a racist or bigot when pushing forward with such policies. It’s because even Those who discriminate know that Discrimination is shameful and disgusting. Instead, they proudly showcase the handsome facade on the surface by professing We must enforce the law or We must protect our people, while slyly hiding the ugly intentions of preserving a traditional privilege.  
 
Such discriminatory policies are the newest dark chapters in the US history being written today by the Trump Administration and its enablers. The approval ratings for such cruel administration has generally hovered around 40% over the last 2 years, with disapproval ratings around 50%. Among White male, who perhaps enjoy the most traditional privilege in the US, approximately 60% support Trump.
 
What’s more, among those who say their identity as a White American is extremely important, Trump’s support reach above 80%. On the contrary, among White Americans who say their racial identity is of little importance, less than 5% voice support for Trump. Evidently, the support for Trump rise in tandem with the embrace of white identity.
 
What these numbers visibly suggest is the true intention of the majority – that is, to defend to the end their traditional privilege even by suppressing the minorities. And right through it, we can see the fading majority’s fear of losing their traditional privilege.

Read Next: No More Discrimination (12)【Fear】
Read Previous: No More Discrimination (10)【Reverse Discrimination】

Complete Series: No More Discrimination (1)～(12)
[1]   [2]   [3]   [4]   [5]   [6]   [7]   [8]   [9]   [10]   [11]   [12]  
 
Read Theme: Discrimination