is prejudicism apart of human nature and we just plain simple stupid?

1. 59

   elvanGalaxyposted 14 years ago

   is prejudicism apart of human nature and we just plain simple stupid?
   
   Why should any human be afraid of someone that causes no threats or harmness to anyone?

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2. 60

   Derrikposted 14 years ago

   The obvious answer is that we should not be afraid.  However it is not as simple as that unfortunately.  I am white.  (As you can see from that little cooky picture to the left.)  I have several black friends, and we do not see eye to eye all the time, but I am not afraid of them at all.  They are some of the nicest friends I could hope to have.  My ex-gf is from Kenya, and we are still very close friends.  But there are plenty of black people that I do not trust at first sight.  It is not that I'm prejudice, the problem is that I do not know which ones have jobs and are honest members of society, and which ones are angry, hateful thugs.  And there are alot of the thugs out there.  A HUGE percentage of black Americans are criminal minded, and many of the black people who are not criminally oriented, are difficult to tell apart from them because of music and culture and the atmosphere they were raised in.  You are a product of your environment.  The friends I mentioned, are African American, as opposed to Black American.  African Americans, for the most part, are different.  They are Africans, who have come to America recently. They dress different, they treat you openly from the start.  And there are plenty of Black Americans who are the same, but so many of them are just plain scary.  I wonder if they are a threat just because I am white and walking down "their street".  So I stick to "my streets" and avoid that crowd as much as I can.  And I think it is a shame, because I will never get to know those in their community who are great people.  But getting stabbed by some thug while looking for those nice people isn't worth it.  Am I racist??

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   frashposted 14 years ago

   I wouldn't say simple stupid, I think its too hash. Human beings are and have been for thousands of years just a little ignorant. It is because of this ignorance that most people are prejudicial.
   If you look at children you will see the true essence and beauty of humanity in their hearts which is untouched by hatred and other artificial prejudices like race, religion and nationality. What makes these children prejudicial in the end is the fact that man is a mechanical product of the environment and if one is raised up in a racist society he/she will most likely become racist but this is and should not always be, people are blessed with intelligence to transcend all these and take their fate into their own hands. So I would say that even though we are prejudicial because of ignorance it is up to us to change all that for a better world.

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   writesketchbeadposted 14 years ago

   Part of the problem is self worth. People with high self esteem are less likely to judge people- that doesn't mean they don't but it is less likely. Judging for a lot of people is a way of making them feel more secure or just worth something. If they are better than others then atleast they are worth something.
   But fear of change and that which is different is a natural response. Forgive me for simplifing it to this degree- but its like trying a new food. It may be something you will love but you are intent to stick with what you know.
   Prejudice isnot only an issue of color or race. The person (black or white or anything) wearing a suit and working hard is likely to judge the person in the bank dressed in torn overalls and smelling like pigs. Everyone has a nitch they are comfortable with and makes it difficult for them to step pass those feelings. Some people have adverse reaction because the person before them reminds them of some one or many someones who wronged them. For instance there are many people who can not release the feeling of hate and fear of anyone who looks Arab after 9/11. Those who lost a loved one, who were saved before the collapse or who worked at ground zero are the most likely to wrestle with such intense emotion. These people deserve patience.
   And of course yes some people are just stupid jerks. That can be found in every race, culture, and status.
   The truth is there are lots of reasons people judge. Sometimes being patience and trying to decern their reasons is not a bad idea. Then, ofcourse if they are just jerks atleast you know you are judging them based on personal observation of them and not being prejudice yourself. Why risk lowering yourself to something you hate?

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