Reply #95: a common argument

[Two Americas]

This is the argument used throughout time to attack the powerless and defend the powerful. In the 1850's examples of "dangerous" slaves were used to say "see? The slaves are no better than the masters!" which was an effective argument for defending the system, and therefore for defending slavery. Here at DU I have often heard the argument that the "poor are not better human beings just because they are poor" or "not all rich people are bad people and I am tired of rich people being blamed" and most recently we are to believe that homeless people are oppressing and persecuting the people working in the "helping the poor and homeless" industry, or that professionals in the mental health field are somehow being oppressed and persecuted by their potential patients.

Master killing slaves is not “equal” to slaves idly wishing the master dead. See the difference? The fear of a slave insurrection is not s justification for leaving slavery in place, nor a defense of the system. Requiring the slaves to be perfect - and focusing on the slightest little shortcoming - while defending all masters based on the rare benevolent ones, is a function of the power imbalance, and of acceptance of that power imbalance.

It is the failure to see or acknowledge the power imbalances in society that is the main cause of the power imbalances, and the most important thing that any of us can do to keep those power imbalances in place.