The Bipolar Experience

Diversity

24 Jan 2011 1 Comment

by Bipolarboo in Family, Life, looks, Relationships Tags: Differences, Humility, Life, looks, Tolerance

Hey All,

I hope every one is staying warm in the beastly cold weather. Bundle up!!! Layers, layers, layers!

Okay so today I was chatting with someone, we were having a great conversation. I suddenly said ” as stereotypical as this may sound, you seem like the type to…”

After I made the comment I thought about what I had just said. It took me aback because I usually don’t stereotype anyone. No let me rephrase that. Generally I try my best not to stereotype anyone. (Was that better?)

Most of us do it with out realizing it. Or maybe we do and just don’t care. (That’s another conversation , altogether.)
Before you start thinking I’ve never done that, think about it…

Have you ever seen an overweight person at a restaurant and thought, “they really shouldn’t be eating that much.” Automatically you assume that their size is due to over eating. Never factoring into the equation that it could be a thyroid malfunction that’s causing them to be that size.

Have you ever encountered someone at their workplace, with an accent that was difficult to understand or perhaps they had difficulty understanding you and thought ” Why don’t they learn to speak English.” (or whatever the predominant language happens to be.) Or “Why don’t they go back to where they came from.”

Instead of thinking that maybe you should have been more patient,that they were doing the best that they could to help you. That they deserve to earn a living like everyone else, regardless of where they were from originally.

Have you ever seen a couple that you deemed to be “mismatched” or “not suitably matched”
and wondered why they’re together or what do they see in each other?

Instead of thinking that its great that they’ve found love, understanding and acceptance in each other. We judge them based on our own ideas of what a relationship should or shouldn’t be like.

Is that our right? How is that any of our business?

Have you ever treated someone differently based on the way they were dressed, their gender, sexual preference, age, religion, socioeconomic status?

We all have.

We are all individuals, we have different personalities, beliefs , traits etc…
Our tastes in food, clothing & style, music all differ.
We come from diverse ethnic & racial backgrounds.

All things considered, we are not clones,
We are all different, we need to learn tolerance & respect for each other, never rush to judgment.
Treat others like you’d want to be treated, refrain from making assumptions.

Look at things from the other’s perspective.
Be open to learn more about the culture of others.
Let your commentary be factually based rather than speculative.

People tend to be afraid of what they don’t understand. We’ve all be discriminated against in some form or fashion. Learn to have more compassion, patience & humility in your dealings with others.

Not that it will happen overnight, but it time if we all make an effort, we may be able to cut down on the incidences of bigotry & discrimination so many people face on a daily basis.

So I ask you, Can we all just get along?
Do whatever you can to make the world a better place,

Do what you do to the very best of your ability ,