URNotAlone

Education of Culture

December 9th, 2010 4:14 pm MST

We speak of discrimination insofar as referencing some mainstays of society found in race relations, home ownership, hiring practices and perceptions of social status. Moreover, we collectively admonish those adopting such outdated notions. 
Over generations, we’ve been enlightened toward cultures and peoples not readily familiar to us; and, as a result, eyes are opened relative to one’s productive abilities, familial proclivities and vibrancy of dance, cuisine, faith, language, work ethic and generosity.

A simple lack of knowledge — ignorance — is the closed door to expanded breadth and awareness of community.  Unfortunately, much is attributed to time-tested feelings of vulnerability that stem from the uneasiness of being uncomfortable.  Perhaps acting as natural defense mechanisms, many are quick to either dismiss as “wrong” or deride for the purpose of self-preservation when encountering someone (or something) new or differing from an intangible set of boundaries.  Mocking others is the apparent tonic for making ourselves feel better.

This, partly, is what Irish and Italian immigrants, those physically challenged, and American-born women endured. Once upon very different times, the aforementioned and many others were viewed through negative lenses, based upon … what, exactly?  An immigrant, for example, has no “official” track record for others to draw from. Essentially, they’re strangers. Opinions — and worst of all — conclusions toward them were unfounded, wholly preposterous, and rooted in unabating fear of the unknown.  That “fear” breeds discomfort and a sense of lacking social control.  In battling these phantom fears, unfamiliar peoples were blatantly denigrated, blacklisted regarding employment and housing, and otherwise deemed unseemly.

Through time, of course, these and other silly appraisals diminished by way of eventual openness to experiences and interactions beyond personal, cemented borders. Social enlightenment only advances a community, a family … an individual.

Naturally, there is a difference between awareness and likability.  Think soccer.   Espouse indifference, become physically ill from its mere mentioning or love it fanatically.  We recognize it as a component of world culture while acknowledging there are no requirements relative to embracing or loathing it.

From the above-mentioned example, remove “soccer” and replace it with “transgendered persons”.  Generally speaking, the same principles apply, in addition to those concerning our Irish and Italian ancestors.  Matter of factly, imagine the varieties of food that you wouldn’t experience in adulthood given the assuring, predictable cereal-candy-soda-donut regimen of your childhood.  Alas, your tastes (forgive the pun) expanded through purposeful curiosity (“That looks yummy“) and unassuming circumstances (“It’s part of the meal; might as well try it”).

Never limit yourself in terms of life’s offerings, including the people comprising it.  As creatures of comfort, reaction to anyone or thing foreign is nearly an unconscious and reflexive motion in pulling back, attempting to examine in search of something recognizable and often serving a premature judgment from snapshot-in-time analyses.

Instant finality is more expeditious than methodically learning about and discovering all that is new, fresh, curious, varying, puzzling and the like.   It also allows for a mental vacuum to be occupied with aged, misguided stereotypes at the hands of peers and trusted adults.  Let us all agree that absolutely no single person is born harboring any semblance of negativity in the way of bigotry, racism and otherwise baseless judgments.

Life is not to be simply lived.  It’s foundations, pleasures, curves, priorities, nuances, rewards, peaks, challenges and little surprises are derived from experiences.

Dare to know those whom you’ve observed from safe distances; harness your inner spark in gaining exposure to varied creativity; attempt that which you’ve merely considered; engage a soul not like your own, and learn from their perspectives toward better rounding your own daily navigations.

We’re all unique, but not so different.