People naturally divide people for two classes: one's own people and strangers (people from other villlage, of different faith, nationality, citizenship).
Communities have different habits and values, when people from different communities meet, they don't like each other because each man thinks the other behaving in a wrong way.
Ethnical tolerance is a result of enlightment as well as wisdom. Since it's difficult to be such a man, we have racism.
Ideally every community should have it's own space. The tensions are less frequent in this case.
Barbed wire said this in post #3 : People naturally divide people for two classes: one's own people and strangers (people from other villlage, of different faith, nationality, citizenship).
Communities have different habits and values, when people from different communities meet, they don't like each other because each man thinks the other behaving in a wrong way.
Ethnical tolerance is a result of enlightment as well as wisdom. Since it's difficult to be such a man, we have racism.
Ideally every community should have it's own space. The tensions are less frequent in this case.
You make good points. I think gated communities already exist.
I just wish it was not necessary. I think "Star Trek's" missions for the Federation was the right idea. Maybe the future will be so.
I think that racism spawns from extreme ethnocentrism. While taking pride in one's culture is a good thing, there is fine line between that and degrading other people because they are different.
M.
"Every positive integer is one of Ramanujan's personal friends."—J. E. Littlewood.
I think it's inherent in human behavior to want to be accepted and belong to a group (usually a group that looks or thinks like they do) and be intimidated by someone else's differences or something they don’t understand.
Race and religion have been the catalyst for nearly all hatred throughout history. Religion especially. More acts of violence, and most importantly, war, have been waged because of religion. The crusades, holy war, jihad, all of that. Humans are passionate and often deathly stubborn when it comes to beliefs. That’s why it’s good to have an idea. You can change an idea.
Hating someone based on ethnicity is the oldest for of prejudice. Difference easily breed’s contempt, jealousy, nervousness, and humans instinctively react negatively.
Honestly, I think prejudice and racism is just who we are. All of us are guilty of it at some level at some point in their life.
I don’t see things changing drastically for the human race any time soon. Americans, for example, can make strides all they want. There’s still billions and billions of people who are raising their kids to hate, triggering that built-in need to belong to a group that thinks or looks like they do.
HECK said this in post #6 : I think it's inherent in human behavior to want to be accepted and belong to a group (usually a group that looks or thinks like they do) and be intimidated by someone else's differences or something they don’t understand.
Race and religion have been the catalyst for nearly all hatred throughout history. Religion especially. More acts of violence, and most importantly, war, have been waged because of religion. The crusades, holy war, jihad, all of that. Humans are passionate and often deathly stubborn when it comes to beliefs. That’s why it’s good to have an idea. You can change an idea.
Hating someone based on ethnicity is the oldest for of prejudice. Difference easily breed’s contempt, jealousy, nervousness, and humans instinctively react negatively.
Honestly, I think prejudice and racism is just who we are. All of us are guilty of it at some level at some point in their life.
I don’t see things changing drastically for the human race any time soon. Americans, for example, can make strides all they want. There’s still billions and billions of people who are raising their kids to hate, triggering that built-in need to belong to a group that thinks or looks like they do.
-HECK!
Yes Heck..I am afraid you are correct. What can we do about it?
In the end, treat people how you would want to be treated and don't judge a person by what's on the outside. I know it's a rather simple answer and a tad cliche', but it's true.
But we're never going to fully eliminate racism. The answer is to be tolerant of others and their beliefs. Just because you've been tought something your whole life and belive it to the core, it doesn't mean that is the only answer. And maybe, just maybe, you could be wrong.
I think that people of different religions, who are the extremists, tend to think that only they are right, and that their religion is THE ONE to the TRUE God. It has sparked so much hatred over thousands of years.
The same with color. Some people think that they are SO better then another race, or social status. They use that to push hatred, and keep someone down.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
KJ said this in post #9 : I think that people of different religions, who are the extremists, tend to think that only they are right, and that their religion is THE ONE to the TRUE God. It has sparked so much hatred over thousands of years.
The same with color. Some people think that they are SO better then another race, or social status. They use that to push hatred, and keep someone down.
Any religion claims it knows absolute truth. It's the nature of religions. So, non-followers are logically wrong.
Very often it's true that people belonging to a certain social group based on religion, nationality or colour, achieve more than another group. They begin to think that they are better while the other think the first snobbish or swindlers. So the hate is always two-sided.
racism and bigotry exist in people so that they can think better of themselves...but its people like this are the ones that are the most afraid. They are afraid if they are nice and accepting, then they becomes less powerful...and what I mean by "powerful" depends on what they are longing to have and be. (If that makes sense).
Its too bad because in the long run the best power a person has is to accept others as they are.
unfortunately...like HECK said...it wont change anytime soon, and I agree with him about the race and religion thing...but I think there is more bigotry and racism within religion....these people will think of anything to not accept or hate another....you know, all in the name of God.
IMO
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
06-16-2004 08:34 PM
You nailed it, mystic... I think that there is so much more within religion than anywhere else.
