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Jeff Ericson's avatar

This is really elegantly stated - it feels like a mine field best avoided, but to do that we need another framework.

We have an f-word rule in my house. My impulsive 10-year-old will get surprised and yell 'Fuck!' I'm ok with that, as long as he understands the consequences of saying it in public. As soon as he trots out the word 'Fair,' though, we've got problems. At least 90% of our public and political discourse today boils down to "but it's not fair!"

The only correct answer is - "You're right. It's not fair. Never has been, never will be." Fair is a subjective concept. What seems fair to me, won't be fair to you.

If I could suggest a way out of the very real collective guilt dilemma you describe, it would be to decide collectively what future we want together, and then (only then) acknowledge the past, accept the present, and talk about ways to get there. Guilt is corrosive, and we have really important and urgent work to do.

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Mark A. Lefebvre's avatar

I think one should avoid collective guild by taking responsibility. In this case, the collective responsibility of living up to the mistakes, horrors, errors and intentional bad behavior of your ancestors. You have this responsibility by virtue of having been born, which you had no choice about, so the burden may seem unfair, but it is unavoidable. In short, leave the world a better place by struggling and sacrificing and trying to avoid the mistakes of the past, this is the best way to overcome the burden.

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