Reply #93: good point

[Two Americas]

Many firefighters have saved many children, and risk their lives in their jobs all of the time. This is a big story because of race, and is getting a good response because it is a chance for white liberals to gush about themselves and each other and re affirm their self-images as enlightened caring people. As such, it is extremely self-indulgent, and that comes at the expense of a deeper and more meaningful discussion about racism.

It is most definitely misplaced consider it to be heroism just because he didn't let her burn alive due to her skin color, and I do think that is what people are doing. Is a fire fighter doing a person of color a favor by rescuing them just as they would a white person? Is it more heroic because of the person's race? What does it say about us that the fact that a white fire fighter saved a Black child is some big newsworthy event? Are we really to believe that had the child who was rescued had been white, or the fire fighter Black, that we would see the same response here?

So many people latching onto these stories and then wallowing in an emotional feel good party about them reflects how racist the society still is, and how far we have to go yet.

People will get angry with us for our comments, and ask "can't we just feel good about this?" Sure they can. Can't we ask why this makes so many people feel so good? If not, why not?

Would a story about a white person who is still so thankful and grateful for the actions of a Black person 40 years ago get the same response? If not, why not? Would a story about a person who is still so thankful and grateful for the actions of a person 40 years ago, without race being involved at all, get the same response? If not, why not?