[borski]

Unless you or your family were the ones that fought, it is privilege. Privilege isn’t a “bad word,” either - it’s okay to have privilege. But acknowledging it’s existence goes a long way toward building humility and understanding the situation of others who don’t have it.

[mensetmanusman]

These debates over privilege get complicated because everyone is privileged on some facet of their existence.

[borski]

Sure. And it’s not a competition. Acknowledging the ways in which we are privileged is all I’m suggesting we do.

Living in a warzone affords very little privilege, but likely not none.

[seizethecheese]

Define family. Because most Americans are descendants of war veterans.

[kelnos]

I mean, so what? If one of my ancestors fought in a war defending their/my country's freedom, I don't get to claim credit for what they did. I am privileged that those ancestors made the sacrifice they did and don't have to fight in a war myself.

[seizethecheese]

I believe there’s more nuance here.

If both of my grandfathers fought in WWII and neither of yours did, my parents are likely to have picked up a lot of latent trauma that yours did not.

I believe the lower classes in this country are less “privileged” for their freedom , on average.

Of course, the more time passes, the smaller this effect.

[imoverclocked]

Interestingly, trauma and chronic stress gets passed through genes too.

[borski]

Precisely.

[borski]

You are intentionally missing the point. The pedantic definition of family is a strawman, in this case.

[seizethecheese]

Sorry it came across that way. I was hoping to point out that there are shades of truth to what you say.

Probably lower class people have a lot more latent trauma passed through generations.

[borski]

Sure, I agree with that. Trauma can definitely be generational.

[majou]

Is it not "be privileged" or to "have privileges"? It's not as though it were quantifiable—"privilege checks" (the decade old boogeymeme) notwithstanding.

[borski]

Not sure I understand what you mean. I am saying it is good to acknowledge the privileges you have, and/or the fact that you are privileged. Not everybody has privileges, or is privileged, or however you’d like to describe it.