Prejudice is usually a negative opinion based on feelings that we have that may make us feel better because we are frightened or unsure. Prejudice is part of human nature. Even though it can cause trouble we can’t help but make opinions based on feelings. If humans see someone walking by we instantly make assumptions about them with out even trying to get to know a person people just decide whom they are. Prejudice can be based on many different things the most common of which is racism, which is a false opinion based on where someone is from. Racism stereotypes people of any race. A common stereotype in the United States is that all Arabs or Muslims are terrorists. This is not true even though many people believe it to be. Prejudice can also be based on little things like how someone does their hair or what somebody wears. An example of this might be if someone sees a person walk by in black clothing one might think that the person in black clothing is gothic or something and react negatively.
One way we can solve this epidemic is getting to know those who are prejudiced against and learn whom they really are. This is really the most basic thing that can be done to combat prejudice. If someone were prejudice against Latinos then getting to know someone of that ethnicity would probably lift the prejudice from the persons mind. Therefore making the person less likely to be prejudices at a later date because they already proved themselves wrong about an ethnic group. To combat prejudices that others implant into our minds we can get to know the people that are prejudiced against and discover the truth of things. If someone has a bad experience involving some other race or ethnicity researching and getting to know that race or ethnicity could also remove a prejudice related to a bad experience. Put in essence understanding those who are prejudiced against reduces prejudice. By simply getting to know people who are prejudiced against, which are generally nice people, prejudice can vanish.
Prejudice can be very destructive and it can degrade entire nations. Racism is one of the worst forms of prejudice that exists. Minimizing it would greatly benefit the world for good. Countries should look at what their actions would do to other peoples and look at all races as equal human beings. The idea of people of different cultures being different races is an idea that promotes prejudice, moreover all of the human “races” are human and since all of the people on earth are human, people should treat one another as equals. This attitude would greatly aid in the removal of prejudice. In some places ruling classes where formed to make the natives feel inferior. Eliminating this practice would make dealing with the natives of many countries much easier because they wouldn’t be afraid of the possibility of long-term degradation by the newly enforced overlords.
The media is one of the main contributors of prejudice. The movies that the media produces are often full of prejudice against someone. The media not only spreads prejudice it is also infected by it. The medias view of a place like Utah is distorted. One example is that the media most likely believes Utahans to be cowboys, hillbillies, pioneers, and other such people. Because of the medias power over the opinions of the people prejudice is directed wherever the medias prejudice is focused at the moment. The media really doesn’t care whom the prejudice that it spreads hurts. The media simply wants to spread their opinion and be paid for it.
Understanding each other and trying to stay away from our feeling based judgments can essentially solve prejudice. Avoiding the degradation of entire nations by way of racism would be a powerful tool in the removal of prejudice from the existence of man. Much of the blame for prejudice belongs to the media. The media invents rumors and spreads lies for a profit not caring if anyone was affected by the slander. If mankind where to embrace compassion and understanding prejudice would melt away like ice on a hot griddle. Without the armaments of love and understanding for our fellow man we are like leaves in a windstorm, powerless against the forces of nature. If we posses them we are like stolid fortress walls against a water balloon. With love and understanding for our fellow man the world would be a peaceful place unified with no prejudice or contention of any kind.
No comments:
Post a Comment