If we are not afraid to look inside ourselves, we ultimately find that we must face the fact that some degree of prejudice exists within us all. Yes, even within you and me, my friends. No matter who the reader may be.
Since most of us tend to have a difficult time seeing our own shortcomings, we must each learn to ask ourselves some very hard and very personal questions.
Let me look in the mirror, so to speak. Am I hiding the fact that I am (at least a little) bigoted toward others whom I perceive to be “different” from me (due to one or more of the following: skin color, religion, sexual identity, ethnicity, or socio-economic status)?
We must ask ourselves the hard questions. And we must not be afraid to confront any bigotry or prejudices we may find within ourselves. If we are unable to face down our faults, we are far less likely to even realize the fact that they actually exist when others call our attention to them.
And here’s the “science” behind why we all (yes, including you and me) have at least some prejudicial beliefs:
Humanity evolved in tribes. Over countless millennia. Each tribe or small group lived totally separate from the “others”. Others who were deemed to be “not like us”. In order to survive, different tribes often competed over the same territory and resources.
“They” were not “Us”. And we could not let Them become Us, because if we did, we were smart enough to know that fewer of Us would have the resources we needed to survive.
Fast forward to today, when our ancient xenophobic tendencies (whether they serve to actually help us survive now or not) remain deeply entwined within our genes and culture. Such xenophobia can become especially rampant when partnered with religion and/or politics.
However.
There exists something at least as strong as our genes and our culture, if we’ll use it.
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