Sadly, we have to make some allowances to get anywhere. We can't expect immediate satisfaction and acceptance. That's one thing I don't understand about people in fights for rights like this. You're not going to get everything all at once. Be happy with the small achievements and continue to work for the larger ones.

@Melbates I will continue to fight for everyone's rights, not just a select few, and am not interested in making concessions.

@MollyBell I'm not saying that. I'm saying we have to take what we can get and do it slowly. To expect everything all at once is outlandish.

@Melbates I'm not saying I expect everything all at once. I was pointing out the issue I have with the logic, and am comfortable that my point is valid.

@MollyBell never said otherwise.

@Melbates While I agree that there will never be a change that grants "everything all at once", it is still a position that has to be fought for. For one, if only a few rights are asked for, then once they are granted, and the next rights are asked for, those who made the concessions will (and have!) complained about the oppressed just taking more and more, and never being satisfied. "We gave them everything they asked for, and they're never satisfied! They're getting greedy!"

Another reason is because the compromise positions that are inevitably arrived at will be somewhere between what is asked for and the status quo. If few things are asked for, then the compromise will contain very little. If I'm haggling with you to sell you something that is worth at least $20, then I won't ask for $22. I need to ask for $40. Or $50. Or $100! I won't get it, but if I don't ask for it, then what I eventually get will not be anywhere near what I need.

On top of that, the piecemeal approach may work in a historical context, but what about the people alive now? We don't have a right to ask a person to give up a portion of their life to wait for progress. Telling people to "just wait" is patently unfair when this is the only life they ever get. That argument was made around marriage equality, and many people died before they were ever given a chance for happiness and acceptance. Even those who survived, had to live a portion of their life without what they deserved.

@miffy it took several hundred years for the black person pictured to even be considered a person.

@Melbates that is a great injustice, and demonstrates why rights need to be fought for. It's exactly why everything has to be asked for, and asked for right now.