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On prejudice
Aug. 6th, 2006 01:21 pmI've been thinking about the flap with Mel Gibson claiming he's not a bigot, and I gotta wonder: is there really anybody out there with zero prejudice in any direction?
I don't have to wonder whether I'm prejudiced; I'm certain of it. Against, basically, everyone.
For various reasons, I'm prejudiced against people who don't look like me, but I'm also bigoted against people who *do* look like me. Same for folks who disagree with my political thoughts ...and also those who agree with them.
Now, it is my ultimate goal to be without prejudice, so I try to hit these feelings with a mallet whenever they raise their ugly heads. But I think I retard my own progress if I don't admit to the bigotry I do have -- and perhaps the best I can hope for is to achieve a balance of tensions while I travel down the road to becoming the person I wanna be.
I dunno why it would have been so difficult for Mr. Gibson to say, "Hey, apparently I am prejudiced. But I don't wish to be, and would welcome any assistance from the Jewish community."
Perhaps he doesn't believe he is a bigot -- but then it sounds like he's using a different definition of the word than I am. I don't wanna call him a liar, nor anyone else who claims to be free of prejudice ...as long as I make it clear that I don't consider myself to be on that (short) list.
I don't have to wonder whether I'm prejudiced; I'm certain of it. Against, basically, everyone.
For various reasons, I'm prejudiced against people who don't look like me, but I'm also bigoted against people who *do* look like me. Same for folks who disagree with my political thoughts ...and also those who agree with them.
Now, it is my ultimate goal to be without prejudice, so I try to hit these feelings with a mallet whenever they raise their ugly heads. But I think I retard my own progress if I don't admit to the bigotry I do have -- and perhaps the best I can hope for is to achieve a balance of tensions while I travel down the road to becoming the person I wanna be.
I dunno why it would have been so difficult for Mr. Gibson to say, "Hey, apparently I am prejudiced. But I don't wish to be, and would welcome any assistance from the Jewish community."
Perhaps he doesn't believe he is a bigot -- but then it sounds like he's using a different definition of the word than I am. I don't wanna call him a liar, nor anyone else who claims to be free of prejudice ...as long as I make it clear that I don't consider myself to be on that (short) list.
