I think that nearly all of us have been subjected to prejudism in some manner. Whether it be via religion, race, or nationality, prejudice still effects the large majority of us in some ways, even in a modern age.
My question is whether or not we need to redefine prejudice in an age that is taking so many different cultural changes?
Social class prejudice has always existed as well, with the proverbial peasant class being shunned by the middle class and high class. In medieval times, this was extremely evident in Europe and Japan. Is it still that definable in modern nations?
Also, the gender issues have stepped into the prejudice fray with often confusing ethical dilemmas. Gay, trans-gender, and bisexuals compel a new set of moral puzzles as the issue of "acceptance" comes into play.
Do political agendas really have the right to legalize what is considered acceptable? If the republicans win the elections (in America) do they have the right to initiate a ban on personal relationships (i.e. Civil Unions & such) and if so, is this not a form of legislative prejudice?
On a macro-social level, ideas about prejudice now stem into prehistory with some anthropologists believing that our species killed off the Neanderthals and many other hominid species due to a competitive drive fueled by prejudice. Is this true?
Prejudice on a micro-social level also seems to be a key component on overtly dangerous "Bullying" where children are often beat severely, and in ever growing cases, actually killed.
Is there a "cure" for prejudice out there, or in us? Or are we so linked to our primeval instincts that we can never truly obliterate the prejudice drive within our species?
Roots - ignorance; insulation; evolutionary tendency to create in-groups
Cures - education; perspective; none outside of inconceivable amounts of time or directed evolution via biological or technological means
Cures are ordered respective to that which they cure in the above list.
It's no big secret how to deconstruct prejudice. It's implementation that is logistically nightmarish.
You seem to want to steer this toward gay marriage, so meh.
I like what you said about the cures - and the difficulty in "applying" them. (Is that a correct way to view it?) However, I don't want to steer it toward gay marriage (though I do think that's a valid point as well) or any "particular" prejudice issue but prejudice on a generic level.
I will be bringing up many different types of circumstances to convey prejudice and how flexible it can be in destroying peoples lives.
What do you think about the role prejudice played in our more recent genocides -- like Rwanda? Would it be a fair assessment to say that the genocide in Rwanda Africa was an example of extreme prejudice wining over national/social logic? Could the same be said of the Serb/Muslim crisis?
I do not know the answers, but would like to consider other opinions on such things.
At the "root" of it all: it's just biological programming.
I don't think there's a specific "prejudice" gene. In fact, the ability to discern based on how much "un-alike" another is from you was probably beneficial way back when (and is still partially true today).
But, we can only blame so much on evolution and genes when we have quite a bit of free will to choose on our own.
there are some interesting theories about this with regard to why racial differences, while entirely genetically superfluous and meaningless, are the type of things that are instantly the most salient to our perceptual systems and able to be discerned at long distances or even simply from a silhouette
It relates back to the last of my three original points. The genetic tendency to create in-groups is powerful and takes all sorts of forms. Education and Perspective can mitigate it somewhat, but not entirely. We're still prone to value those in "our circles" more than others, regardless of how enlightened we are. It's a problem that can only be blunted, not solved entirely.
I remember going to primary school with an attendance of 99.
Regardless of racial, religious and cultural beliefs everybody was family in the end.
When I went to High School I watched the friends who went with me naturally converge with racial groups...I was shocked! This school had up to 1000 students.
In due time they diverged to people with similar interests whilst I just roamed between as many as I could. Sometimes some of their members would instantly shun me but I tended to get along with everybody.
I can't say what my point is. But community is the key regardless of race and creed.
I think this closed off lifestyle based on entertainment and comfort in our own homes is the downfall of society that embraces consumerism and escapism that's for sure. And societies forced hardship through career can make people not smell the flowers and embrace the people around them. Separation through caste systems is a big no no as well.
There is no right answer for a perfect society. Countries that embrace overpopulation in the name of competition may have deep camaraderie but just breeds war in the end with everybody else.
Someone once told me that you'll never be at peace with the world until you are at peace with yourself. I just wish everybody else knew that.
Gender: Male Location: Stuck In the future where Akus evil
This.
I don't feel it matters how well educated some people are as long as there is free will there will be Prejudice and Racism. Education may help the problem but it most certainly won't solve it. There can be so many variables causing someone to hate like this and some of them are simply to hate because they wish to hate. Some people may even fully understand the things they are prejudice against, accept them as normal people and still just not want to be anywhere near them. Im not trying to pick on the Homosexual populace here but some people may understand and agree they deserve equal rights but still not like them.
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Oct 25th, 2011 09:44 PM
