Monsieur Ci Gît

As a heterosexual white male, I hate saying anything about sexuality, race, or gender. I don’t like getting involved because, on some level, though I have never once assaulted another human being in any sort of context, I feel like I have no place in the discussion. That who I am and what I represent is somehow the problem. Si I stay out of it. But every so often I need to say something. I need to say that I can like movies and still hate rape. Or that I can like music and still hate domestic assault. That people are not their choices. That actions can be bad, but not people. That people who do bad things can also do good things. That good things don’t save a person anymore than bad things condemn them. That a statue doesn’t signify acceptance of the bad act, just commemoration of the good one. That bigots can write beautiful poetry. That rapists can make perfect films. That the world isn’t as simple as a dichotomy between good and bad.

But, when I say these things, these things that I honestly and truly believe, I feel terrible. I feel like I’m somehow undermining feminism and equality. That I, too, am nothing more than a heterosexual white male loaded with western privilege, keeping people subjugated.

Even though I believe myself to be right, I still feel guilty. Maybe it’s best if I don’t say anything at all even if I feel like I must.