Prejudice is Not Simply Stupidity
Posted at C’s Library 10/02/99
After commenting on a few of the postings on this site, I was finally prepared to take my chances with you guys and publish a poem (a first – no guts) but, while wandering around on various links, I lit on a site that really inspired me to dump my guts instead on an issue that I think is much more important. Sorry! No sex and maybe a little heavy for most (I hope not). The poem will have to wait.
Prejudice is not simply stupidity
I dedicate this to a young guy from Arkansas, soon to be 18 but going on 30, of whom I have a great deal of respect. His essay inspired me to pen these thoughts that have bugged me most of my ‘adult’ life (shit... it made me mad too, again) and I hope that he’ll forgive me for quoting an observation of his out of one of his most excellent essays:
“Now I realize that a person who shows prejudice is just showing their stupidity.”
So, what am I reacting to?
He’s too, too kind! To me, ‘Stupidity’ is too gentle an admonishment. ‘Stupidity’ suggests that the individual is a victim, hence, faultless due to something beyond his control. I look at prejudice as one’s, intolerance, self-indulgence, insecurity, insensitivity, fear, LAZINESS, and narrowness, their lack of self-pride, of self-esteem or respect. They are unsure, dogmatic, superstitious and ignorant. All of which results from THEIR choices rather than their infirmity. They are not children, so I hold them accountable for what they are.
In my ‘religion’, worthwhile people are just the opposite. They withhold judgment, they search to understand and, maybe search again. They give others another chance, and smile, then walk away if there’s no understanding. And they’re willing to come back tomorrow and listen and try again. They’re introspective, challenging their own stereotypes, their own values. They search for new understanding of and for them selves. They never stop challenging.... growing.
They see everyone as being the same, deserving of respect and understanding – deserving of love and the right to be whoever they are. But they also rejoice in the marvelous diversity in those around them and know that this is what makes living so beautiful. They love and accept others for who they are without trying to change them. They FEEL hurt and betrayal!
They’re who they are – no pretence, no grease paint; the billboards were left behind in their childhood. They accept, feel and give love. They love. They’re alive! :-}
They see HATE for what it is and die a little in it’s presence. They sing out and challenge hate’s popularity. Some times they’re heard... but not often. Fighting back, at times, seems futile, but they cover their ass’s and fight it the best they can.
Is this who I am? Do I measure up.... does anyone? But it’s a worthy goal!
Oh yah, ...we’re not stupid either........
So far, just about the only place I’ve found people who seem to understand what I’m saying has been here, on this Web site. Thanks guys. If you can add your thoughts to my ‘list’, I’ be grateful.
Chuck (the Preacher)
Responses to:
Prejudice is not simply stupidity
Re: Prejudice is not simply stupidity
"never stop challenging... growing"
What else of value is there to do?
Amen! Preach on Brother Chuck!
Re: Prejudice is not simply stupidity
Re: Re: Prejudice is not simply stupidity
Re: Prejudice is not simply stupidity
Self reflecting...adding a few thoughts...
WOW! and Thanks
(Chuck)
(stew)
(TheEggman)
(n/t)(JT)
(Josh)
(Clay)
(Clay)
(Hal)
(Chuck)
(02-Oct-1999 00:21:39)
(02-Oct-1999 01:31:12)
(02-Oct-1999 13:03:19)
(03-Oct-1999 17:12:38)
(03-Oct-1999 20:31:44)
(03-Oct-1999 20:39:18)
(03-Oct-1999 20:37:01)
(05-Oct-1999 01:15:14)
(07-Oct-1999 00:00:45)
Re: Prejudice is not simply stupidity Saturday, 02-Oct-1999 01:31:12
203.30.236.72 writes:
I agree completely, people are accountable for their thoughts and beliefs. Many will say they were raised with that belief, but they could change if they really wanted to.
Fortunately there are people who don't judge others, but seek to understand that which they do not. They don't see things as being wrong, only different. Their minds and hearts are open to new possibilities, to grow as a human being.
It is indeed a worthy goal to aspire to. Perhaps, only at the end of our life, can we know if we got there.
stew
"never stop challenging... growing" What else of value is there to do? Saturday, 02-Oct-1999 13:03:19
63.23.20.176 writes:
TheEggman
Amen! Preach on Brother Chuck! Sunday, 03-Oct-1999 17:12:38
207.54.134.139 writes:
JT
Re: Prejudice is not simply stupidity Sunday, 03-Oct-1999 20:31:44
129.15.129.143 writes:
I have to agree with Chuck here and the wonderful guy who wrote the original essay (who I happen to know). Prejudice is stupidity, and oh so much more. I'm one of those people who has grown up around lots of prejudiced people, and while I have been taught well by my mother to respect others opinions and not prejudge anyone, it's hard to keep that up when you've grown up around people who aren't as open-minded. But I like to think I can listen to others, and while I may not agree, I can respect their opinion to believe/think/feel whatever they want. I still fall into bad habits I've learned from other people though, and it takes work to get rid of those habits, but it can be done. People need to learn to respect others for who they are.
Josh
Re: Re: Prejudice is not simply stupidity
Sunday, 03-Oct-1999 20:39:18
4.11.132.22 writes:
you know, josh, you said it so much better than I did... you didn't sound as preachy as I. :-)
Clay
Re: Prejudice is not simply stupidity
Sunday, 03-Oct-1999 20:37:01
4.11.132.22 writes:
I'm so glad that my little two-page essay is inspiring so much thought! Of course, my views have changed a LITTLE over the course of time, but only a little.
I think prejudice is still stupidity in some cases. But my definition of stupidity is slightly different than Chuck's. I use the word much more harshly. BUT, he's right. Most people who hold prejudices do so with full accountability. I wasn't necessarily trying to admonish those people in particular. I used the phrase to illustrate that I OVERLOOK those people's prejudice. So many people that I love are prejudiced in one way or another, and I've learned to overlook it. That's not the best way to approach the situation, but it's the way I handle it. That is not to say that I don't try to change their minds. But once the person is of the age of accountability, you won't change their mind easily. Most of the time, it's a lost cause.
I think that fighting prejudice is a very good thing to do; if it is done in a certain way. The way that I see most people fighting prejudice is no better than the prejudice itself. In effect, we, the people who are being discriminated against, form our OWN prejudices while fighting for our individual rights. That's definitely wrong in my opinion. The way to fight prejudice, stupidity, ignorance, whatever you want to call it, is information. Not name-calling, admonishment, violence, or anything like that. That kind of thing is what we're supposed to be fighting against; not instigating ourselves.
This simple little post of thanks has turned into a behemoth, so I'm going to leave it at that. If you want to read my essay, go to http://www.oocities.org/boy1der17 and click on "Stories and Stuff" on the sidebar. Thanks for listening to me...
Clay
Self reflecting...adding a few thoughts... Tuesday, 05-Oct-1999 01:15:14
208.218.152.192 writes:
Some thoughts I encountered while self reflecting after reading your posts. I hope I'm not too far off the topic or out in space :)
In my eyes, being prejudice in it's broadest sense is an integral part of being a human being and not negative at all. Let me explain what I mean by this: I have to make judgements without having a full and absolute understanding of a certain issue. There is just too much information and too little time in my life to fully understand the majority of things that are going on around me. More often, if not always, the best I can do is to make an educated guess. In order to make my guess somewhat educated, I have to make a reasonable effort to learn everything of relevance involved in the issue I want to judge. This doesn't always work, since we all have our own and often false understandings of relevance. After all, a persons understanding of relevance is nothing else than based on an educated guess all the same. Seems kind of an iterative process to me.
I think that prejudice only has the potential to become a problem when the judgement process lacks the reasonable effort at understanding the issues involved. Now how exactly to define reasonable? I think it has to do with a majority of things, first and most important I think is the scope of the judgment.
I have to admit, I catch myself lacking the effort frequently. May it be out of disinterest, indifference, laziness or whatever other reason. You all have named a few. But how should I know if Mercedes really makes outstanding quality cars. I think they probably do, though I haven't driven one myself and I am no mechanic. I can only rely on the tidbits of information I've randomly and mostly subconsciously gathered on this issue in the past. I wouldn't call that an educated guess, to say the least. But my conscience isn't too bad since I would never give anybody the advice to buy a Mercedes based on my "judgement" in this matter.
The lacking of effort to understand an issue, in my eyes, only seems to evolve from a problem into a real danger when the issue involved is of relevance towards the well-being of others. I think this is what we most commonly perceive as being prejudice. Now to prevent potentially harmful judgement, I think it is important to:
- be AWARE that our judgement affects the well-being of others.
- be WILLING to better inform ourselves when we see that there is something important at stake.
- be OPEN to new ideas we have not previously considered.
- be TOLERANT towards different ideas, goals, and beliefs even if we don't agree with them.
- be AWARE of the quality of our judgement
I'm sure there are more...
Now why do a lot of people seem to lack above attributes? I think this is the main question we have to ask ourselves. Personally, I don't know. I think they are an integral part of one's character, but how do we become to be who we are? I think I'll have to inform myself better on that issue before I dare to make an educated guess...
Hal
WOW! and Thanks Thursday, 07-Oct-1999 00:00:45
205.212.1.139 writes:
I’d like to thank you all very much for your most excellent and thoughtful response to my bleeding mini-treatise. We’ve certainly hit ‘prejudice’ from every angle, it’s source, it’s destructiveness, how to deal with it and how NOT to deal with it (thanks to Clay).
I think Hal (self reflecting) hit the nail dead center by exploring one very important source of the problem (aside from stupidity, of course) ‘just too much information and too little time’. I view this source as a necessary response to the deluge of information we’re swimming in. To survive and move on we must classify, pigeon hole and ultimately these can develop into stereotypes (Ouch! Another of my ‘triggers’). I’ve probably used ‘prejudice’ and ‘stereotype’ in the same sentence before but, for some reason, it never really clicked until I read Hal’s response. So, for those of us who keep trying to remain open, introspective and understanding of those around us, the information glut = stereotype, is another deadly trap waiting to swallow us up.
One thing is missing from our equation, though. On the one hand we hate HATE. Just look at the little signs we plant on our Web sites. And at the same time, we ‘OVERLOOK those people's prejudice’ or sigh that we can’t teach old dogs.... This may work for our relatives whom we love, but what about those who do the real damage. Those we erect our signs for? What are we then, pacifists?
Clay’s right. We can’t strike back. I know I would damage myself more than the offender and I don’t need more regret in my life. But, I can’t sit on my thumbs hoping I’ll stay out of harms way while waiting for the world to change. It’s not going to happen. However, we might start by saying NO; by interrupting a prejudiced comment and saying “No! I don’t believe that” and then explaining why (without preaching). I started this approach with my mother. She didn’t like it one bit. In the end, she stopped slipping back into her deep south upbringing... at least when she was around me. I’ve since used this approach with my friends. Some aren’t friends anymore, but, no loss. How much headway have I made in changing the world... not much. It’s more than nothing.
To Stew: I know right now that I’ll never live up to my preaching. The most I can hope for at the end of my life is to be able to look back and know that I tried...most of the time.
I’m sort of happy that this became a behemoth, Clay. Now if it could only match the magnitude of the behemoth that we’ve been discussing.
Chuck