Why are so many seemingly so downtrodden, then, when so much has been granted to them? To be sure, some victory was won by struggle, but (I would argue) the lion's share of their gains were by voluntary concession of the rulers who made good faith attempts to right previous moral wrongs. Yet by many measures, these people are worse off today on average than they were during the days of their claimed "oppression." Who, then, is the enemy today? Who now bashes the head against the curbstone when the old oppressor left the field long ago?
Could it be that, as someone mentioned above, that people do not value, or at least under-value, that which was given to them, as opposed to something they had to strive for, to at least earn, even if not necessarily physically fight to attain? Taking things for granted is a universal human failing.
Well, now you can sit anywhere you like on the bus and all the Confederate statues have been removed from the park. But as the bus rumbles down potholed streets, past decrepit tenements, block after block of shuttered or burnt-out businesses, vacant lots and crowds of rough-looking men idling on street corners, ask yourself "Are we really better off today than our grandparents or great-grandparents were in the bad old days?"
Clearly, the above examples dealt with the history of race relations. In my opinion, the issues raised have far broader applicability: the need for individual responsibility as well as (alas) the limitations upon what can actually be achieved.
Why are so many seemingly so downtrodden, then, when so much has been granted to them? To be sure, some victory was won by struggle, but (I would argue) the lion's share of their gains were by voluntary concession of the rulers who made good faith attempts to right previous moral wrongs. Yet by many measures, these people are worse off today on average than they were during the days of their claimed "oppression." Who, then, is the enemy today? Who now bashes the head against the curbstone when the old oppressor left the field long ago?
Could it be that, as someone mentioned above, that people do not value, or at least under-value, that which was given to them, as opposed to something they had to strive for, to at least earn, even if not necessarily physically fight to attain? Taking things for granted is a universal human failing.
Well, now you can sit anywhere you like on the bus and all the Confederate statues have been removed from the park. But as the bus rumbles down potholed streets, past decrepit tenements, block after block of shuttered or burnt-out businesses, vacant lots and crowds of rough-looking men idling on street corners, ask yourself "Are we really better off today than our grandparents or great-grandparents were in the bad old days?"
Clearly, the above examples dealt with the history of race relations. In my opinion, the issues raised have far broader applicability: the need for individual responsibility as well as (alas) the limitations upon what can actually be achieved.