This has\u00a0bothered me for so long, and I’ve wanted to talk about it so much, that it has blocked me from writing other things. \u00a0Today, it’s come to a head. \u00a0Maybe because it is March. \u00a0Maybe it’s because of the rumor that Westboro Baptist Church will picket Leonard Nimoy’s funeral. \u00a0Whatever the reason, I want to talk about how to deal bigotry.<\/p>\n
But first, here are two\u00a0answers that do not work:<\/p>\n
It’s noble to stand up for the little guy, and fight for people that cannot fight for themselves. \u00a0Unfortunately, that’s the message you’re sending when you soapbox for people of a different race, gender, or sexuality. \u00a0You’re saying that people X cannot stand on their own, that people X are weaker, and require assistance.<\/p>\n
White Knighting is not the same as spreading awareness. \u00a0When one group of people are oppressing another group of people based on something as superficial as gender, race, or sexuality, we need to know. \u00a0But if you are fighting for a people not your own, because you think they need it, maybe you should examine\u00a0the root of your motivation.<\/p>\n
Reverse discrimination comes in several flavors and names. \u00a0No matter the direction, it’s still discrimination, and will not make our society better. \u00a0Instead, it polarizes. \u00a0People stop thinking, and instead, just start fighting over bullshit.<\/p>\n
White males have ruled the world for a long time. \u00a0I cannot and will not dispute that. \u00a0However, calling on people to marginalize or ignore an individual’s work because they are white or male is, in the long run, just going to\u00a0create a new bigotry. \u00a0That’s not justice, anymore than punishing a child for the crimes of their parent is justice.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Now, here are the three things you can personally do to make the world a better place.<\/p>\n
As a reminder, it is this: treat people as you would want to be treated. \u00a0That is the rule in its simplest state. \u00a0Personally, I expand it to include treating people with love.<\/p>\n
This is an ideal. \u00a0You will not always remember to do this. \u00a0Depending on what’s going on in your life, you may not even be capable of doing this. \u00a0However, like any skill, the more you practice, the easier it will become.<\/p>\n
If you choose to treat other people the way you want to be treated, you will stop doing the first two things I listed.<\/p>\n
At my most cynical, I think people are generally stupid. \u00a0Individuals, on the other hand, can be exceptional. \u00a0When dealing with an individual, remember that they are unique. \u00a0Do not unnecessarily burden a person\u00a0with the history and stereotypes of the people that they look like.<\/p>\n
You may have been raised in a household (or a church) where bigotry was part of the education. \u00a0You may have inside you some prejudices that you are unaware of. \u00a0If you remember that individuals are not people, and treat every person you meet on their own merits, you will start to free yourself of the ingrained prejudices that you were unfairly saddled with.<\/p>\n
If the first two directions were idealistic, this one is practical. \u00a0When you become aware of an organization or an individual acting on prejudice, do not support them. \u00a0But keep the first two rules in mind when you do this.<\/p>\n
The best way I can explain this point is through two examples.<\/p>\n