To be able to understand is to listen well. How often have we jumped to conclusions, befoer taking the time to reflect on what someone’s said before jumping in with an opinion. All of us at sometime have been quick to make judgements without all the facts, We readily believe what we hear and see in the media or from past experence then lumping everyone in the one basket. Difference is still not acceptable take a look around in the school yard and you will still see separate groups, bullying, name calling, inapproprate text messages, emails and phone videos.
We put ourelves and each other down and don’t notice the amount of negative messages that come out of our mouths. Atitudes towards each other and sterotypes of how we live and behave is staggerring.
There is still beliefs on what a real man or woman is with no room for those of us who don’t fit these gendered sterotypes. Every person is a unique individual with likes/dislikes, strengths/weaknesses, skills/interests but if we look, behave or have interests in areas that doesn’t fit society’s expectations then are labeled and judged and treated differently. Discrimination, prejudice hompohobia and violence are part of the world at large with varying consequences or no consequences at all.
extermetists, cults are not the only ones with blinkers of hate and indifference to others we all have been guilty of being to quick to make assumptions about a person by their gender, culture or what they look like before getting the chance to know them. Adults know better than children, poor people have chosen their lifestyle they could change their situation if they really wanted to, Aboriginal people get things easier and why should we support them they will only trash what’s given to them or waste it on alcohol does any of these phrase sounf familiar? Boy’s don’t cook, dance, girls don’t fix things, play football or cricket. How often do you praise a child or adult for something they have done well? How often do you put someone down, told them they are stupid or their work is substandard? Often it’s easier to see the worst not the best in people and wonder why they don’t reacg their potential. Maybe we should be more intune to think before we speak it could see a positive change for the better of all concerned and a healthier way of being. (less stress)