I'm guessing it's because for a good chunk of our recorded history, White Men were real big bastards to everyone else. So, current white males, have to pay for their mistakes.
The thing I find odd is the entire idea that you're responsible for your parents (more commonly) father's discretions. It isn't as common in our neck of the woods. But ... it's still somewhat believed, even if people don't know they're doing it.
I never understood how I, for example, could be "racist", simply because I have a paler skin then some, even though, I am in fact, half Arab. It just doesn't show in my skin color.
The other thing is ... genetics can be funky. Because, if there's even one person in your collective family lines with some genetic trait that doesn't form to what everyone else is (we can use skin color as an example), that gene becomes recessive. Meaning, that at any time down the line, it could dominate at some point in a pregnancy, making the child whatever color ... characteristics (physically), whatever it may be.
It's pretty interesting actually. And, just the thought of that really flaws hatred based on race ... or any genetic trait like that. I think, the only thing you should really get pissed at someone for is their actions. I mean, even they think something radically different then you, if they're not harming anyone, what's the big deal?
It's sort of the same thing with missionaries, I never understood their thought process. They say, "You must find God" to these people that have no idea what that might even mean, and basically force them to convert. However, looking at it from a religious angle would raise the question of: do they actually believe that? If they don't, are they actually being "saved", as the missionary intended, or thinks? Because, if they are, that goes off the assumption that, you can basically fool God, which goes against the entire message of whatever they are teaching, which is usually, God is omnipotent.
It's just all one big Catch 22.
While, I believe it's a very good thing to have beliefs, (they keep you sane and they can act as something to help you through your life, something to identify with when you need it), I don't think any of this stuff was really meant literally, as it is sometimes interpreted as. It just doesn't make sense.
On top of that, a lot of people think, since that stuff doesn't happen anymore (I'm talking about biblical stuff like, parting of the sea type of descriptions) we're "fallen" from God, or whatever, and are close to the apocalypse. It just doesn't make sense, when in all actuality, those events were probably VERY embellished, or simply never happened. It's really something you have to look at, especially if you take stock in a religion, You should understand your belief system as much as possible, but as you said: that would make you responsible for your actions. And in this day, far too many people refuse to do that. I think, the only reason why is that before (say 200 years ago) you didn't always have to answer for your discretions, it didn't matter since, whatever practice might have been accepted. But now, everyone is responsible for what they do, so they try to find a way out. Be it blame or whatever.
I too find it upsetting.
I didn't mean to intermingle the two threads ... I just don't want to post in the other thread as well
Blame it on Microsoft, God does.