Victimhood abounds. But victims can readily become victimizers. Where to draw the line in proclaiming grievances and demanding redress is difficult and can aggravate our fraught political condition.
I suspect if we have a sense of fairness and justice we, unavoidably, all are. The appeal inherent in my essay is that society, in my view, would be better off if people were not so quick to push the victimhood button, turn down the temperature a bit, and seek other ways of explaining and sharing an understanding of the injustices they endure.
Many thanks, Waheed. I have been writing these essays for a year now, at the rate of almost one a week. So far, the muse has been kind to me, but sometimes kinder than at other times. I am confident, though, that there will be more to come.
Because government policy is filled with trade-offs, it's always possible to be in a group that feels others are getting a better deal. Currently, the move to forgive student debt is a perfect example. Those who oppose it, rather than see it as help for the victims of a broken education and loan system, paint themselves as victims because they paid off loans and so aren't receiving the benefit. As you say in your excellent penultimate paragraph, it's all about seeing the larger picture and respecting our common humanity.
Yes, student loan forgiveness is a most apt example of an issue that provides ammunition for feelings of victimhood by those who are not its beneficiaries. The examples, though, are endless. A point I imply is that some people may be just ready to cry victim, and then employ their cry as a political vehicle that leaves others suspect and resentful. A general lowering of the temperature across the board would be politically useful, as well as focus on issues that address the welfare of society as a whole,as you note.
Yeah!! Joe, are you involved in creating those circumstances? Mary Buchbinder
I suspect if we have a sense of fairness and justice we, unavoidably, all are. The appeal inherent in my essay is that society, in my view, would be better off if people were not so quick to push the victimhood button, turn down the temperature a bit, and seek other ways of explaining and sharing an understanding of the injustices they endure.
This is a most thoughtful article on a complex subject.
Many thanks, Jean. Complex it assuredly is.
A fine effort to weave carefully among numerous potential minefields of misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and ideological advocacy.
Many thanks. It is a difficult, nuanced topic that can generate strong feelings - perhaps often too much so!
Very good but please don't keep us waiting this long.
Many thanks, Waheed. I have been writing these essays for a year now, at the rate of almost one a week. So far, the muse has been kind to me, but sometimes kinder than at other times. I am confident, though, that there will be more to come.
Because government policy is filled with trade-offs, it's always possible to be in a group that feels others are getting a better deal. Currently, the move to forgive student debt is a perfect example. Those who oppose it, rather than see it as help for the victims of a broken education and loan system, paint themselves as victims because they paid off loans and so aren't receiving the benefit. As you say in your excellent penultimate paragraph, it's all about seeing the larger picture and respecting our common humanity.
Yes, student loan forgiveness is a most apt example of an issue that provides ammunition for feelings of victimhood by those who are not its beneficiaries. The examples, though, are endless. A point I imply is that some people may be just ready to cry victim, and then employ their cry as a political vehicle that leaves others suspect and resentful. A general lowering of the temperature across the board would be politically useful, as well as focus on issues that address the welfare of society as a whole,as you note.