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Most of us are privileged in one way or another - even if, on net, we are actually structurally underprivileged. In being a stateless Palestinian refugee I'm three kinds of underprivileged, but in being, say, a man I'm a member of a privileged category.
I'm also middle class, urban born & raised, a university graduate, an English speaker. All of this is also privilege. I also was raised in a country where my language and faith were supreme.
And I'm here to say this: Equality is challenging. I see why it's scary for some people - it's deeply disruptive not only to social and political order, but to our own stories that we tell ourselves about who we are.
Equality means that you have to take a hard look at yourself and your own privilege. It means questioning your own story of how you got here. This is a spiritual struggle that isn't talked much about, as we focus on the sociopolitical.
Many people are not ready to take this hard look at themselves and their own life's story. They're afraid, they're angry, and they feel victimized, despite their privilege. These people need a soft landing. They need someone to tell them that they're gonna be okay.
The great leaders of the 21st century won't be those who inspire the underprivileged to stand up for their well deserved rights. The great leaders are those who can do that - but also make the privileged feel safe, secure, and dignified as they get inspired by this new society.
We don't have to maintain our privilege over others in order to live in dignity. It is indeed possible for all of us to live in dignity.
