Well, y'know, that's the one we're discussing; I didn't say it never applied, I said raising the issue WHEN it doesn't apply undercuts everyone who raises it when it does.

I haven't noticed, but I suppose that goes without saying.

The idea that race and sex are ALWAYS relevant only helps those who use it to justify their bigotry. Yes, there CAN be relevant cultural factors; if two people are applying for a class teaching Mexican history the one from Guadalajara is probably (though not necessarily) more qualified than the one from Peoria. What one needs to ask oneself when looking at the factors is whether race and/or sex is actually one of them or they just think it is because it "help[s their] own opinion of [themselves]" by assuaging some misplaced liberal guilt (nice job; I was trying not to go there). Sex and ethnicity don't automatically mean someone exhibits a particular factor, and assuming they will is literally prejudging the situation (and people). Race and sex can impact the LIKELIHOOD of a given factor, but look for the factor as such, don't just look for the factors listed in some sexual or racial profile.

Likewise, if the factor is present and harmful it should be addressed on that basis, and cultural norms are only relevant as an obstacle to overcoming said factor. That's not about ignoring or destroying culture, it's about improving it and not simply accepting negative attributes as somehow inherent or defining for a race or sex. If someone thinks something that does real and serious harm to themselves and their community is part of their cultural heritage, that's fine, but it's still got to change, not because I reject the culture, but the behavior; I'd also question why they take the limited view that something so destructive is integral to their culture. That cannibalistic cultures exist doesn't validate cannibalism for them anymore than for others, and while there are cultural factors that encourage it I'd redirect or eliminate them in a heartbeat without shame or regret. People are different, yes: Not the same, but still equal (A Wrinkle in Time should be required reading for that concept alone). Maybe I shouldn't have fallen for the convenience of the term "color blind": I'm not saying I'm unaware of race or sex, only that I try not to let them INFLUENCE me without very good reason it should.

Unless there's a credible reason to believe sex or ethnicity is a factor it's counterproductive to bring it into play: Making race or sex an issue when it isn't one is pretty much the definition of racial and sexual prejudice, regardless of which group it favors. It's one thing to rightly note that poverty is more common among racial minorities, but that's not a cultural pheonomenon, it's a product of racial bias, and losing sight of that distinction accomplishes nothing. Like I said, arguing that the national media would've ignored a black woman or white man who didn't report their child missing only to have police find the body next door to their house is even more insulting to blacks and men than it is to the media, because it suggests that suspecting THEM of heinous crimes is so reasonable it doesn't warrant coverage.

For the record, I'm quite familiar with the Southwestern climate, in every sense. One reason I suspected this was a case of shaken baby was a similar case heavily covered in the Austin news a few years ago. The main difference was that both parents took the child to the hospital, where they also claimed it was an accident (the classic "falling" story, IIRC) but were ultimately charged with killing their child, and there was a similar degree of public outrage and horror that a woman had killed her own child. I don't think that was because she was white though, since she and her husband were hispanic, and had they simply hidden the body, never reported it, and had it found by police a month later when their parents reported the child missing, I'm sure the national firestorm would've been comparable to this one. This case is simply not about race or sex, furthermore while other situations frequently are, that's seldom, if ever, a good thing, and bringing race and sex into everything does nothing except reinforce intolerant peoples bigotry while dilute the impact of VALID allegations of prejudice. Even when it's not a case of "the boy who cried n-word" it's not civilized or enlightened at all; quite the reverse, actually.