We all know that prejudice is divisive, but if anyone thinks they are free from prejudice, think again!
Prejudice is a normal part of our brain's functioning, which automatically categorizes similar phenomena or ideas. It is impossible to stop the brain from doing this, just as it is impossible to stop our intestines from digesting the food we eat. Therefore, nobody can truthfully say they are free from prejudice, as the process of questioning and perfecting the conclusions of the brain's categorization function is a life-long endeavor.
However, this natural process becomes a problem when it is combined with other aspects of our human existence. One of the most basic human needs is to have a positive self-image. This is evident in the fact that people who cannot fulfill this need are often willing to destroy themselves instead of living with a negative self-image.
Many false leaders have manipulated this need by encouraging the people to demonize an "other" and thereby unite the people around their own vested interests. Demonization enables people to strengthen their sense of self-worth by "projecting" their own human failings on the "other" and thereby placing those failings outside of themselves.
It further enables those false leaders to incite the masses to attack that demonized other, instead of looking to their own failings and working to overcome them. Because of the need for a positive self-image, it is easier to attack our faults if we project them in others, than it is to recognize those faults as our own and attack them within ourselves.
Only a growing awareness of our shared humanity and frailties will allow us to realize that we all share the same sad failings and wonderful virtues, so that we can work together to overcome the former and cultivate the latter.
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An example of prejudice is racism, an opinion about a group of people, who are of a different race or color or culture, that expresses itself as though it were the truth and not misguided. When prejudiced minds accept their prejudiced notions or thoughts or ideas to be the truth and then begin to multiply themselves by persuading more people in their "similar" group to think the way they do, it leads to something called "group think." That is, a bunch of people who all think and believe the same way and never or rarely think about investigating the truth on their own to find out if what they believe is really true. Why? Sometimes it's easier to not "rock the boat." And if there's a bully leading the group of misguided souls around, it becomes even easier to create group-think mentality. Because: no one wants to be yelled at or humiliated or shunned, etc. (OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT)
ReplyDeleteWhen referring to racism as an example of prejudice, in today's society (USA where I live) I agree that for the majority it's easy for people to choose to be prejudiced or racist. But I also believe that racist prejudices are learned/acquired as a result of an individuals' upbringing and choices they make as they grow from infants to become adults. The world around us has its effect, some good, some bad. "Group think" has an effect, too. That is, it's easy to go along with what the group thinks. And it's hard to investigate prejudiced perceptions or racist opinions with an open mind once racism has been cemented into a persons' mind. It's like being brainwashed. But in a world that's free or much more free of racism than the world is, today, I wonder if this tendency to become prejudiced towards "others" in a racist way might begin to shift in the other direction to the point where it would not be considered as being so normal? And like rotten food in our mouth, it would immediately be spat out the moment we tasted it.
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