Gay rights, black rights, workers rights, womens rights, etc

[Maverick]

What are your opinions of advocacy groups? Do you feel that they are a positive thing that raises awareness of their cause or are they counterproductive in further dividing us by labeling and separating themselves from everyone else?

I was reading something yesterday and it was pointing out that nowadays we no longer focus on the rights of individuals but rights of groups.

Groups today seem to not focus completely on equal rights but to beneficial interests. If the group is then seeking extra benefit how is that equal?

Should we focus less on group rights but more on individual rights?

[Bobby]

No, I don't think groups are bad. In my opinion though, advocacy groups that are based on race, or religion are.

[Serenity]

I think the idea behind advocacy groups is a great and noble one. However, I think they absolutely take things too far. Women's rights groups think that we have been treated so poorly in the past that we deserve not only to be EQUAL to men, but BETTER. If a man gets a job over a woman, they absolutely ignore the idea that maybe the man really was better qualified, no it HAS to be sexual discrimination. And exactly the same with black rights, etc. Everyone feels like the stereotypical middle-aged successful white man OWES them something, which completely is not true. It's basically become EVERYONE against the typical white man, because of course all of our problems are HIS fault. Duh.

[Whisper]

if i lived in Quebec and spoke French instead of English I'd be allot better off

[Maverick]

if i lived in Quebec and spoke French instead of English I'd be allot better off
But what is your opinion on groups? You know equal rights, interests that was mentioned a few posts above? :P

[xTheLordsServantx]

Ok first off, I am black, if that matters...
Second, Group Rights are clearly the way to go. Although we should be looking at Individual rights, Group Rights have proved themselves useful and productive. What I mean is that throughout history, people who were denied rights formed groups to fight oppression, and in every instance, it worked. Ill give you 3 examples to prove my argument tenable: Women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, African Americans in the mid-20th century, and Indians in the early 20th century. Im not going to write an essay, so ill just give a few points.
Women: Women were denied rights throughout all of time. But, during the 19th century, women banded together to demand equal rights. It was not individual women, but all women. Class and race divisions were ignored, and women came together to form the Women's Reform Movement, which eventually allowed them to receive the right to vote. Blacks: During the Civil Rights Era, all black people and even some whites, formed together to demand equal rights for blacks all over the nation. In this case, individuals came together to form a group to demans rights. Indians: When the British were in India during the 19th century, the Indian people banded together to overcome the oppression put on them by the British. They did not work individually, but rather as a group or unit. These three examples prove the point that looking at people as "groups" isn't necessarily wrong, but rather the way things have gotten accomplished

[Serenity]

Well that's all fine, well, and good, but as of late, as in the past few years, I just feel like these activist groups have gotten completely out of control. Yes, there were massive successes in the past, but people have taken those successes to mean that now that some people have achieved equality we have to take it one step further and prove we're BETTER than equal, which is ridiculous.

[Hauptmann Kauffman]

I agree Serenity, in the past these groups did some good, but nowadays they seem to want revenge against us... (And by they I meant advocacy groups. I really don't care If I "offend" someone *deep sarcasm, whiny voice*. They can go off and whine all they want, Ill generalise if I want to)

[xTheLordsServantx]

Well that's all fine, well, and good, but as of late, as in the past few years, I just feel like these activist groups have gotten completely out of control. Yes, there were massive successes in the past, but people have taken those successes to mean that now that some people have achieved equality we have to take it one step further and prove we're BETTER than equal, which is ridiculous.

Can I please have an example, because I dont think its the actual groups that think they're "better". People have always seen themselves as better than other people, its part of human psychology - it gives us a sense of security.

I agree Serenity, in the past these groups did some good, but nowadays they seem to want revenge against us...

What do you mean by "they"? You see, that is how problems are created, by generalizing people, i.e. "they", and you offend people because of that. So please be more specific...thanks

[Mannequin]

As far as achieving those demanded rights, advocacy groups are the way to go. As far as being seen as equal and get less bashing...haha well keeping to themselves is the best thing.

[Everglow]

Should we focus less on group rights but more on individual rights?

Interesting.

Social groups are represented by a plethora of diverse interest groups. For example, if I were an environmentalist, I might want to join the Sierra Club, or maybe the Alliance for America, or even the ALRA - American Land Rights Association.

Furthermore, if I were pro gay marriage I might be interested in joining the Freedom to Marry Coalition.

Whatever the case, such factions attract people who are interested in having laws that coincide with the beliefs of the members of the group put into policy.

What this means is....Proposed 'group rights' reflect the interests of certain individuals; individuals who believe they deserve some kind of recompense (right) for having an interest that they think should have political attention.

So, to answer your question, 'group rights' and individual rights work hand in hand. They coincide together. Consequently, focusing less attention on individual rights renders less attention focused on ' group rights'. The opposite is equally true. Nothing should be done.

[dushanbe4]

I dislike actual groups, but agree with there standpoint. Everyone is equal, but groups like that usually think that they're the only ones treated unequally, and piss and moan about it instead of realizing that there are actually LAWS agreeing w/ what they're advocating.

[dodgeman09]

Can I please have an example, because I dont think its the actual groups that think they're "better". People have always seen themselves as better than other people, its part of human psychology - it gives us a sense of security.



What do you mean by "they"? You see, that is how problems are created, by generalizing people, i.e. "they", and you offend people because of that. So please be more specific...thanks

here are a cople: kkk , black panthers

[dodgeman09]

the main cause of ww2 was hitler killing jews people where over weight had mental illness ect. he beleved in the "perfect"race

[Hauptmann Kauffman]

Umm, no, the main cause of WW2 was the fact that he wanted to create a greater German empire encompassing all of Europe and Africa. The Jews were a second part, the war didnt start because of the Holocaust

[Maverick]

Special interest groups divide us rather than unite us.

[Atonement]

I believe in such groups, but not in groups of race and religion. They simply defeat their own purpose. To seperate yourself into a group is doing the thing that you are literally fighting... it is messed up.