According to the dictionary, the definition of prejudice is ' an unfavourable opinion or feeling formed before hand or without knowledge, thought or reason. Usually of a hostile nature, regarding a racious religious or national group.' We all have to admit that to some extent, everyone judges another based on appearance, race or religion, whether we know the person or not. We conciously or unconciously make comments about a person just based on the way they look. This form or thinking or behaviour is believed to have been instilled in us since young, be it through media, society or our upringing. We do not give a person the chance to reveal his or her true character before we start judging them. This is all such ignorant behaviour, that sadly, all of us practice. This is prejudice for you.
Then the question comes to mind, 'Is there a way to eradicate such thinking?' or 'Have people thought of ways to cure this so called 'disease' ?'. Apparantly some societies have come up with laws to ensure that people 'treat' each other with respect. The laws give people the right to be the way they are, without people criticising them. However, in my opinion, whether societies come up with these laws or not, prejudice will still be prevalent. No one can stop people from thinking what they want to. They might not voice out their opinions but thoughts and judgments are still being formed in their heads. The only way to stop people from being prejudice, is if they learn to accept others for who they are and embrace others for their individuality instead of criticizing them and categorizing them.
It is believed that this 'disease' is derived from fear. Fear of foreign people and intolerance of people from different cultures, who carry different beliefs. This condition is called Xenophobia, which is an intense fear or dislike of foreign people. This condition can only be dealt with on a deeply spiritual level.
In other words, prejudice is a disease which cannot be cured as a whole. It depends on an individual, as to whether they want to change their midsets. Any law created can only stop the judgements from being voiced, but they cannot stop judgements from being formed.
REFERENCE: http://allaboutpopularissues.org/racial.prejudice
: http://unerstandingprejudice.org
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1 comment:
hey Kavina, your entry is really good until i find it really hard to comment. Okay, you got the definition of prejudice from THE dictionary, which dictionary? You also mentioned that all of us make comments about a person just based on the way they lookmake comments about a person just based on the way they look. Is it really true? i mean does everyone think that way, or is it just an assumption?
So hard to comment on your blog. Too good. Too good. okay! bye!
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