| Show W j l WH x l to I the I. I Xai I Z y Jt tt x W x T. A lJ s J i R mn Hate and Rage Are Four Letter Words Discernment taste choice past experience discretion preference and refinement These high class words are used to mask the true face of judgement bias bigotry favoritism intolerance prejudice and discrimination nation We use the former because they sound less harsh and hide what is really being said We Ve sugar coat our words so that we can insult and degrade in a amore amore amore more acceptable fashion It just sounds better doesn't it After all we all do it it dont don't we The truth is we do We use our bias and nd stereotypes to define who l. l we talk to and who we associate with When we walk through a crowd our minds automatically pick out who is a con artist a respectable business person a homosexual a robber an ex con a homicidal axe murderer a sinner a saint or just plain weird We make such judgements judgements judge judge- ments merits without speaking one syllable to these people We Ve dont don't need to talk to them We Ve already know who they are dont don't we They're all the same right Such assumptions and generic stereotypes can be extremely dan dan- But we fail to recognize that the real danger is our bias not the theother theother theother other person One of the many dangers dangers dangers dan dan- gers in our bias and prejudice is the false sense of security they give us The truth is that if given the chance we would most likely fail to identify the serial killer from the neighbor next door Just ask the neighbors of Daumer Bundy Selby and all the rest rt Granted such an example is a little extreme but it does bring up an in interesting interesting interesting in- in question If our stereotypes and bias are really true then how can people still be swindled t. scammed robbed raped and murdered murdered murdered mur mur- dered Are these people just naive or orless orless orless less intelligent then us Of course not They are average everyday people people people peo peo- just like you and me In fact a majority of rapists are people the victim knew People lose their entire life savings to family business partners partners partners part part- ners and even total strangers based on a five minute conversation A mother murders her own children A husband shoots his wife and child So if we are all such a good judge of character why are such things still happening Maybe just maybe we need to stop and think Maybe we need need to throw our old prejudices out the window and enter the world with an open mind A mind that is open to new ideas and people and makes judgements based on the individual instead of race creed nationality sexual orientation religion gender ethnic origin disability or the hundred hundred hundred hun hun- dred of other ways we discriminate every day Maybe instead of just accepting accepting accepting ac ac- ac- ac everything based on our previous previous previous pre pre- experience which no doubt can be an effective tool at times we should rely more on individual situa situa- Experience can be an asset or ora ora ora a fatal flaw It all depends on how it itis itis itis is used So when you nex next t meet a person for the first time try an experiment See if you can talk to that person for five minutes without making one assumption as assumption assumption as- as or pre judgement pre There is a billboard downtown which reads Hate and Rage are four letter words So are Love and Hope our our minds to the test and see what we can accomplish together to to- gether Ernie Emie Geddes Business Major |
