system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: If I treat everyone as a human being and give respect to them no matter their race, wealth, gender, sexual preferences, etc. then I’m already doing my part in combatting bigotry.

I feel like there are voices out there that believe white people, especially white men, no matter how hard they try will always be inherently racist due to their “white privilege”. Because of that, they will always be clouded with a lens of superiority towards blacks and other minorities. 

Here’s what I have to say about that. I am white and was born into a stable family with a comfortable economic situation. I never recall feeling above anyone based on race, gender, sexual preference, or ability. There were a couple times in my childhood where I felt better than the “bad kids” in school, but I was taught and learned as I grew that I, in fact, had my own shortcomings. And this is what it boils down to. 

We are all mortal and we all have imperfections. Because of this, it is not within my responsibility to right wrongs done to minority groups throughout history. I was placed into a time and space in history that I did not choose. I can add value to society, but I only control myself and that’s a struggle at times. I also can’t reliably predict the outcome of everyone else’s actions. What I can do is use every ounce of what I’ve been given in life to positively impact every single life that touches mine. I’m imperfect, so I’m probably going to fail at that a handful (or more) of times, but I can only get better if I keep practicing what I preach. Doesn’t matter if the lives around me are clothed in white, black, yellow, red, are gay, etc...they will benefit from someone else living selflessly, just as I would benefit from them if they were living and behaving this way. There’s probably things in their life that could help me grow and improve. If everyone lived this way, it wouldn’t matter what color anyone was or what their background was.
gpt
You’re doing your part in “not being a bigot” but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing anything to “combat bigotry.” Combating bigotry is about changing the minds and hearts of other people, dismantling discrimination in our cultural and legal institutions, and broadly speaking making the world a better place. While you are doing that a little bit by simply not being a bigot, there’s a lot more to “combatting bigotry” then “not being a bigot.”

For an extreme example, when a cop murdered George Floyd a couple days ago three other cops stood there and did nothing to stop him. Maybe they’re not bigoted against black people, or masochists who enjoy abusing their power, or whatever it was that drove the cop to murder Floyd. But they stood there and watched as someone who they work with, someone they know, committed a brutal murder in front of them.