I often put people down very cruelly - diminishing them the way my parents diminished me and others. For example I was fat, and made life hell for those who were bigger than me. I was also being abused by my parents, and there was literally not a single responsible adult in my life. I don’t know what these girls’ deal…

Were your parents and the people around you not racist assholes? They are teenagers. At this age they are quite possibly only reflecting society around them, not the views they would develop if they get out in the world. And if they are unlucky enough to have terrible parents and live in a racist environment this…

It’s the number per person, not family. Even I, with celiac, on a lean week, can end up spending far less than 29$ on food if I have a full pantry and eat a nutritious tasty menu. Sure, I can’t have meat, but I think it’s an acceptable compromise. The problem is, it takes both a lot of knowledge and time and of course…

But they are majority white - for a while still.

Me too. The only strong, opinionated woman I knew well growing was a teacher.

I agree with what you’re saying, but your casual use of “check your privilege” undermines your point by being completely lacking in empathy. All you need to say is that it’s not about them.

Oh, for crying out loud. As a dark skinned woman, the western canon is not in any way, shape or form part of my heritage. But I live in a western based country, and far more importantly, it is one of the greatest creations of human kind, and an antecedent of modernity the way no other cultural heritage is, including…

Wow. Do you have a link to what’s going on in Chicago?

Many of the terms you are throwing around belong to a very specific lens of analysis. I’m all about institutional racism, talking about it and addressing it in schools, but there’s something to be said for teaching to universal values.

How is examining your own privilege not a part of white savior complex? How about focusing on empathy to truly related to your students and being a real intellectual in order to convince them that learning is fun?

More or less secular, majority Hindu India is far more peaceful and stable than Pakistan/Bangladesh.

Ugh. No. Hebrew as the local language, Aramaic & Greek as the lingua franca. No reason to think they sounded anything like Arabic. The semitic predecessor to so far in the past we don’t even know when it happened.

In Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek. Not really Latin either. Not Arabic for anther 700 years.

She’s a public figure, and furthermore, one that chose it, by marrying a prince. I don’t think that because you chose to become famous you deserve derision, but this is a very gentle criticism, which refers to nothing substantive about her.

Why does it bother you so much? Honestly, I think that Kate dresses like an investment banker. I should know, I used to be one. Which is totally fine, but totally boring. She’s under no obligation to be a fashion icon, but it’s annoying how she’s pushed down everyone’s throats as this great role model.

That's such pernicious, cruel bullshit I can't even.

There are seriously few things that correlate more with good mental health than whether you have a good parent or parent figure. As someone who didn't, I should know.

OMG yes. I have several chronic illnesses and did so much damage to my body because my doctors didn't trust my experiences of pain - and frankly, I didn't either.

Agree 100%. Thanks for sharing.

Of course not, but I don't really see the harm in creating a weight minimum. Sure, there might be some women who are naturally skinny who don't get to be models, but it's not like anyone's preventing them from getting an education or something like that.