Prejudice is a learned trait. You’re not born prejudiced; you’re taught it. — Charles H. Swindoll.
I prefer oatmeal raisin cookies over peanut butter or chocolate chip cookies. Does that mean I am prejudiced against peanut butter or chocolate chip cookies? Of course not.
I want to be careful here. Prejudice is nothing to make fun about. Great tragedies occurred and continue to happen because of racial, religious, sexual, and gender identity prejudices along with a lot of other prejudices. And Swindoll is correct we aren’t born with prejudice we are taught it by our parents, our peers, and sadly sometimes by our leaders by their actions and words.
However, prejudice has more than one meaning, and we must be careful when we throw out words like prejudice, racism, and hate; and when we label people by their race, sex, religion, or gender identity to emphasize one’s differences.
My children and grandchildren know that I have this thing about using the word “hate” even when we are talking about Brussel Sprouts.
Try to emphasize the positive but not to the exclusion of the other. For example I love oatmeal raisin cookies, but if you offer me a chocolate chip cookie I’d be very happy to try one (or two).
Yes, I’m getting hungry as I write this Pew, but my point is that for this week don’t teach about prejudice, but teach about broadening one’s experiences.
Cookies and milk anyone?
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