When I was a kid, I was bullied for many years. Sometimes the bullying resulted in a beating, but mostly it consisted of verbal abuse. There seemed to be no end to what was different about me, and therefore "wrong" in the eyes of others, so, school for me was rather tortuous and often lonely.
Prejudice, something that probably most of us have to deal with at some time in our lives, is a heavy burden to carry, whether we hold it or are the "recipients" of it.
So what is prejudice? According to Wikipedia: "preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience", or "an opinion or judgment that disregards the facts." One of the many problems that comes with prejudice is that it often encourages discrimination and stereo-typing.
Examples of common prejudices: "All blondes are dumb"....."all the people on welfare are lazy"....."all religious people believe in fairy tales"......."women are over-emotional"....."men are only interested in one thing"......."people who don't speak English are dumb"......and so on.
Prejudice can perhaps be viewed as "pre-judgement" and in my view is problematic because it prevents a deeper understanding and insight into that which it pre-judges. Are all blondes really dumb? To ascertain such is it not necessary to actually know all who are blonde? Are really all people who are welfare recipients lazy? Is it not possible that some are not? and so on.
In conversation with someone, I was told that "people on the dole are all lazy" to which I retorted: "How many people on the dole do you know?" Answer: "Well, I don't really know anybody, but I can tell." "How can you tell if you don't know anybody?" I asked. Answer: "Well, I see them in shopping centres just lazing about." "How do you know that those you see "lazing about" are not just having a day off work, or on a break, or on holidays, or are shift workers?" I asked. Answer: "You're not going to change my view, my opinion is my opinion." "Even though you don't actually know whether the people you deem lazy "dole bludgers" really are welfare recipients, you still feel it is okay to judge them as such?" I asked. Answer: "I know what I know and you're not going to change that regardless of what you say", she answered and walked away.
Prejudice does not necessarily have to be "negative" (hostile), it can also be "positive" (unduly favourable), but regardless of whether positive or negative, prejudice in my view is an opinion founded not on knowledge, facts and/or insight, rather the lack thereof.
"Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins" is an old Cherokee saying which I find serves me well as a reminder to not jump to conclusions.
Some suggest that fears of varying kinds and ignorance plays a role in prejudice. As someone once said: "People often fear what they don't understand".
That "bump in the night" may be scary until you realise that it's just a cat, that person following you may seem scary until you realise it's just the waiter trying to return the phone you left at the table, that person scaring you by tailgating is doing so because you have forgotten to turn on your lights, and so on.
Prejudice is often easier to spot in others than in ourselves, just like we probably find it is easier to see others flaws than our own. "You just don't get it, green people are no different than orange people, people are people, all people are selfish and greedy." (All? There is no one who is not?)
"All religious people are nutters believing in fairy tales, that's why I believe in nothing." (Nothing? What about science, medical progress, technology, etc.?)
"I have nothing against purple people, ......as long as they keep to themselves."
Most societies have prejudice of some form and of varying degrees; gender prejudice, racial prejudice, religious prejudice, social prejudice, to mention a few. Unfamiliarity with others customs, cultures, and traditions, can often give rise to prejudice...."People often fear what they don't understand".
Prejudice at its worst is when it is used to justify the annihilation of one people for the benefit of another people. Millions, upon millions of people have been killed just because they were not the "right" kind, the "right" kind of culture, didn't have the "right" belief system, and didn't "look" right.
Billions of us are hanging on to a thin, crusty layer on this planet we call Earth trying to raise our children, make a living, and give our lives some meaning. Perhaps if we, mankind, were to focus more of our efforts on overcoming prejudice, intolerance, discrimination, and judging without insight, we may find ways to a more congruous existence.
All of us humans, whether green, orange or purple, do we not all desire to love and be loved, to belong and get along, to hope and dream, and have a place we call our home?
Look not to someone's countenance, nor the clothes they wear, nay, say I, ....rather, look at their hearts.
“Our job on earth isn't to criticize, reject, or judge. Our purpose is to offer a helping hand, compassion, and mercy. We are to do unto others as we hope they would do unto us.” (Dana Arcuri)
"The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively,
not by the false appearance things present,
and which leads into error,
not directly by the weakness of the reasoning powers,
but by preconceived opinion ...
.....by prejudice." (Arthur Schopenhauer)
ps: the computer is playing up, please excuse the weirdness halfway through...
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