I’m reading a book, “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I like to read books by authors from countries and cultures throughout the world. I’m very interested in the different ways of life, history, and past and present civilizations. There seems to be one common attribute from the past right through the present in every country on this earth. That is PREJUDICE.
From the onset of civilization, human beings have fought against each other. Whether you believe in Adam and Eve or evolution, there are continuing wars fueled by prejudice. This is exacerbated by humans need for power and greed. I wonder if this is just how humans are designed?
When we are born we are innocent, free from bias, prejudice, greed. There is a very famous writing, “Children Learn what they Live.” I remember reading this in my dentist office as a girl about 11 years old. It made quite an impression on me, and still does. Which again brings up the question of learned behavior.
My question to that is, why do some children grow up in horrendous circumstances and turn out to be some of the best accomplished people and others brought up the same way, turn out to follow in the footsteps of that same behavior? So is there something in us from the time we are babies to predetermine which road we will follow? Are some of these behaviors already inside us, as humans, (not being perfect) and some behaviors learned?
I firmly believe that prejudice is a learned behavior. When you grow up in a household where people of other religions, colors, whatever, are looked down on, berated and taught lies about, then that is what you believe. As a side note, growing up I had never heard my parents refer to any other religion or race in a derogatory way. Most children aren’t that lucky.
In reading the above mentioned book, I found it interesting that black people from different parts of Africa are prejudiced against other blacks in their own country, just like here in the United States. When reading Elena Ferrante’s books about growing up poor in Italy, I learned the same thing. Different areas of Italy are prejudiced against others. It is like this in every country. I guess I’m just naive, which I already know, again I was raised that way.
I see Muslims constantly at war, they all believe in Allah, just as Christians believe in God and Jesus, and Jews believe in God. They fight against each other believing their higher being is better and the way to live, than your higher being. Christians don’t like Catholics, yet their beliefs are the same. Why? It goes back to power and greed. It blows my mind that religion of all things, is used to bring people down, whether it is women, people of different colors. or even the fact of where you live.
In reading these books I found another common anomaly. EDUCATION. Poor people throughout the world harbor prejudice against educated people of their own race. It is used as a way to keep people down. It is also used by people accepting their lot in life, believing that this is the way its always been and therefore the right way. That is why you see some women, following their husbands beliefs and acceptance of their position in life. Educated women are seen as a threat to their way of life, even if they are unhappy.
As a civilization, I don’t think we have learned anything throughout our shared history. It will take centuries before humans can accept each other and work together, if the earth is still around for this to happen.
Myself, because we are human beings, unfortunately I never see a day when this will happen. Certainly not in my lifetime or in the future of civilization. So there, I guess I am accepting that’s the way it is. I can practice acceptance in my own life and possibly influence positive change in some way.
The United States, is going through a challenging time. The white supremacy groups are coming out of the shadows. Conspiracy theories are rampant. People are arming themselves for a civil war. Our election and democracy are being threatened. This I attribute to our current leader. It scares the hell out of me.
As John Lennon says, “Imagine all the people living life in peace”