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Don’t ya just wanna scream? I mean, what the hell man? What is all this stuff about racial prejudice, gender prejudices, religious prejudices, any prejudices anyway? What is wrong with free agency that causes no harm to another? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do away with the entire jealousy one individual or one community or one country has of another? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there wasn’t a need for the word prejudice in our languages? We aren’t born with the need for it. It is an attitude we learn, something we are taught, either by our relatives our friends or through the media or by our churches, clubs or schools. Being prejudice is something the government has laws against, but, in my opinion, they are the biggest promoters of. Does it make a difference what color an individual’s skin is, the color of his eyes, or the accent of his voice? Is it my or your place to judge what kind of cloths a person wears or dyes his hair? Should it be my place, or yours to snicker or cluck a tongue over a non vulgar tattoo or a pierced belly button or a nose ring? These individual choices people make, ridiculous as they may seem, are in keeping with their free agency. Whether you think it’s a God given right, an individual given right or a right given to us by our countries constitution does not matter; the fact is our freedom gives us each the right to these kinds of choices. Unfortunately, apparently, they are inconsequential things people concern themselves with, at the expense of another individual’s right to an un-interrupted, free and calm life. Though, admittedly, a human characteristic, these busy body interferences with another just drives me insane! Was there once a civilization where everyone got along? Has there ever been a population of people who respected and accepted each other for who they were? Could there ever have been some who lived freely, in harmony, offending no one? Was there ever a nation of people of mixed backgrounds who respected each other and only opposed and rejected those who chose to harm the innocent? Were there ever a people who “passed the test?” A world of peace and harmony, this is certainly “The Dream.” Maybe there were such a people and just maybe the records they left behind could be a standard to the entire world. Maybe the record of these people I speak of could be a symbol for us. A symbol that, we can all get along. All we have to do is get in step with each other. We really are all born the same. When we come into the world, we have that fresh clean baby smell with those pure clean lungs. We are uncontaminated and clean in body, mind and soul. When I look out of my eyes at the world, I see my home, family, and trees. I see the words on a book, a picture, a lake, or maybe the ocean and the mountains. I see so many wonderful things. It is interesting that what I don’t see is the color of my skin or the characteristics of my physical make up. Of course, if I look into a mirror, or hold my hands up in sight of my vision, or turn my head in a manner where I can see my own body, then I can see those things. I therefore think, no matter another’s skin color, or their personal physical make up, I see exactly what they would see if they were the one looking out upon the world from where I was at that time. Sometimes I try to imagine what it must be like for my brothers or sisters who never had or who have lost their eye sight. I close my eyes to try to comprehend the world here on earth as they understand it and I hear the sounds of a train, a car, a bird or maybe a baby crying. I hear a voice of someone speaking, a dog barking or at the zoo a roar of a lion. I have even put noise reduction ear muffs on my head to silence the world so as to visualize it the way my brothers and sister without a hearing capability must abide in. I have bound my arms and legs to sense the inability to move about “normally.” In all of these instances of changed appearance, restricted or unrestricted capabilities, even painting myself blue I find that I still have my sense of right or wrong. In all cases I am still able to feel happy, sad, afraid, brave, terrified, or exuberant. I am not internally a different person. I mean these experiments have made me think; hmm maybe I am even just like you, even though outwardly I look different than you. I have then looked at another and thought, wow, that person must have feelings just like me to. Maybe I should “do unto others as I would have them do unto me”; after all it seems we are just a like. Now, in all of these experiments, when looking straight ahead, I cannot tell whether I am fat, white, black, yellow, red or brown, or even spotted and bald. The conclusion I’ve come to from this is; we must certainly all be the same. We all must possess the same needs, experience the same feelings, and love and hurt the same way. In all of our life’s experiences we have come to know that no matter what part of the world we are from, the love of family, the hopes and dreams that dwell in us all are very little different. Why then, I wonder, do we attach any meaning at all to the appearance of another. Doesn’t it make more since for us to place importance and meaning to things that really count – like the person’s integrity and character? No matter your religious or non-religious beliefs you must certainly see that the differences in our bodies are for only a few reasons and none of these are for a discriminatory or prejudicial purpose. Of course, there are other prejudices that are not visual and these are not good either and should also be recognized. But, until we get to the point where there is no purpose for the word prejudice in our languages the peoples of the world will always be at odds. And, it is a true, that our own governments and educational, entertainment and news media’s perpetuate prejudice on a daily bases. This needs to be investigated and changed. Some historic/ancient inhabitants of North America may have just left behind some symbols that the world needs to be shown as an example for what can be. Symbols that could be posted for all to see that people of different cultures and backgrounds and color are really the same and can get along. Apparently the Olympic rings are not doing the job, though what a grand idea they represent. It may take a long time but, we can live in harmony. Can’t we?
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