Sunday, July 29, 2012

My thoughts about prejudice

I think most people have dealt with prejudice in one way or another whether they have been the ones receiving it or dealing it. Unfortunately, there has always been lots of prejudice and while the world is more tolerant in most areas of life than they have been in the past; there will probably always be some form of prejudice in all areas. For example; it seems like no matter how much more civilized the world becomes, there will always be some racist or sexist people out there which I believe is a messed up reality.

I have also noticed that as society appears becomes more tolerant in one form of prejudice; they also appear to find another group to discriminate against. Those who know me that I do not care about race, gender, political affiliation, religion, or any other type of group you can think of. What I care about is how you treat other people which I believe is the way it should be.

If you really think about it; I guess everybody has some of kind of prejudice against something. I have heard lots of people (myself included) saying they can not stand prejudiced people. Some people might say that makes you prejudice against prejudice.

I have also seen some people say they are not prejudice, but then turn around and say or do something prejudice. For example; I have seem some people watch a Caucasian person dance who happens to dance really well and then make a comment like "they must have some black or something in them because no fully white person can dance that well". I am white and while I admit I am not a very good dancer (although I love to dance); that has nothing to do with the color of my skin, but I know there are plenty of white people out there who are good dancers (as well as good and bad dancers of all other races as well). That kind of comment implies that the color of your skin has something to do with whatever talent you have which is not true at all.

Instead of some people assuming a person is not worth giving a chance based solely on one factor of their life; we should take the time to get to know the person and learn more about them. I am not saying you have to like the person because nobody is going to like everybody or be liked by everybody, but just give the person a fair chance and accept them for who they are.  If only more people would teach their kids to accept people for who their personalities and not any other factor; I think the world would be a better place.

It is a given that our instincts will sometimes tell us if a person is a good person or not. Instincts aside, do you agree that we should get to know a person as an individual and not group them as part of a race upon the first meeting?

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