Jessica, thank you for your insightful message. The treatise is engaging and worthy. And otherwise, such as of shame...or something akin to guilt and worse, preaching from a pulpit of moral high ground. Nevertheless, much value abides.
There is genuine value in a premise you have offered. The fact we are twisted has value. Not on face value but underlying value. A place in the liminal. Consider that place for a moment.
The under lying value is someplace between being in need of being a victim of our own hardwiring and the culture that propagates the need to look externally for the answer. That some place you tip toe around, skip over while landing precisely where the culture mandates. That someplace is not finding fault or blame or even an opinion but in the truth according to fact. Fact according to what you might ask. Maybe someplace according to virtue.
The fact is simple. And succinct. No one is without privilege. Not a living soul. Think about it. Take your time and look around. The fact is there. Just ask anyone. Ask some more if you like while not comparing but simply stating for one's self. The only self we will ever have. The only self the other's will never possess. Akin to true privilege.
A problem lies in the intention once one begins to compare. Not to one's self but to one's neighbor.
Your view focuses on the external. The mysterious others. And envy and divides and comparisons while in the midst of crying wolf you speak to the heavens about helping people. Hum, something is sincerely interesting here...and there.
What exists at the point of perspective, I would suggest, is the right place to consider...truthfully...while etched in fact.
The view to privilege not in comparing what others have...hence the cultural mandate, but what you possess thus, the individuals perspective of not the external but the internal. The which you have control of. And covet. And enjoy. And deeply appreciate.
How do we help others if shame or guilt represents the substrate of the motive? Think about high rise buildings constructed on quicksand or muck or on wet snow newly covering dry snow.
Ponder a different substrate. One of fact beyond comparison.
Consider a perspective and consequently the action of self awareness as to one's privilege being a blessing and not a curse inducing a journey of not comparing to others [ a fool's errand personified] but in comparing to ourselves. Privilege becomes good. A sacred good at that.
Once you create on strengths, we can begin to genuinely help others. Not by subtracting or finding fault in the self based on cultural wants and desires but in finding true value in being one's self and simply virtuous. Virtuous to both the self and to others.
Thank you. Keep on writing and thinking beyond the cultural echo chamber and who knows what more privilege will become you. Maybe wisdom awaits. To that outcome, we all prosper.
Eric