Random thoughts.

It occurred to me that substance abusers are told to accept that their lives are a result of their choices, and blaming others for their issues only serves to keep them from recovery.  Their problems are never their fault - that is a trademark of an addict, that is how they define their lives.

And while I believer there was a time when sexism and racism existed to a much greater extent than it does now, these groups are still fine with pushing blame for any failures or shortcomings onto the "sexist" or "racist " cultures that they perceive still exists.

As a "victim" they can refuse responsibility for their lives.  How can they ever achieve if every failure is blamed on society's bias.

In fact, society encourages this mind set.  Often allowing women and minorities special privileges to help them advance.  In fact I believer this just causes most of us to question the qualifications of blacks and women, since they may not have been held to the same standards as other applicants.

As a women, I find this demeaning.  There was a time, maybe, in the beginning of the rights issue when a step up was possibly in order.  That time has passed.  I think now such hand holding and affirmative action only serves to put minorities and women who ARE qualified in position to have to doubly prove themselves.