Recognizing Privilege: A Simple Persepctive

My Dad and I were talking about the same thing last night – before the Grand Jury ruling.

I have been couch bound for nearly 8 weeks. I do minimal movements, but each one is so precious right now. It’s given me time to think about other illnesses, injuries, etc. I have thought a lot about kids and innocent victims in war, especially in poverty areas of the world.

I have pain killers, a computer and TV to distract me. A cast, crutches, full family to help. I have spent hours watching the seasons change out my window, sun, fall colors, wind storms, snow. My daughter picked up library books for me.

Privilege – yes. I am a middle class – super lucky gal.

I really like that link nibbler. The example of trying to lob the paper into the basket from varying distances is spot on. Everyone should strive for success while also helping those that are behind us (less priviledged).

We have a saying that to whom much is given much is expected. Perhaps a large part of what is expected is in helping others.

So many world inhabitants do not have running water in their homes. It would seem that there is always somebody behind us that we might help.

The part I’m having trouble seeing is how it relates to being Mormon. Maybe someone could clarify that.

I believe it is just to add balance and perspective. We can’t get so wound up in our feelings of betrayal and disillusionment that we fail to see all the positives in our lives (some of which may be attributable at least indirectly to the LDS church). We also can’t get so myopic in our own LDS world that we do not hear the cries for help from the millions of needy human beings from our own neighborhoods and around the world.

It would be somewhat hipocritical for example to put all our energies into giving women access to the LDS priesthood and then turning a blind eye to the plight of young women kidnapped and abused in africa for seeking an education.

It is not an “either or” proposition. We can seek success and fulfillment for ourselves AND help those (metaphorically) behind us. The key is in balance and perspective.

Found a good quote on the internet from our own Hawkgrrrl about this subject:

There’s a saying that privileged people have won the lottery, but they think they earned it.

Yup, that about covers it. :thumbup: