I should have realized this before: When people talk about "special rights", what they're saying is that they think *other* people should have no right to the privilege that *they* enjoy. It's the implication on the speaker's part that the privileged *earned* what they're being given. This, however, is generally false, because if they had actually earned it, they'd *say* that, instead of resorting to this kind of doublespeak.

Related to this, the next time says that it sounds like I think they should be ashamed for having privilege, the answer would be: No, you should be ashamed for acting like you somehow earned it.

"I've Got Mine": The inane philosophy that privilege is earned rather than bestowed.