Bigotry, Ignorance and Fear
Ignorance and fear, the two pillars of bigotry, are powerful allies. Each supports the other. It worries me that ignorance seems to be on the increase as people are persuaded by “true believers” of every kind to value belief over thought.
Take the case of diversity. Diversity is all around us. It’s a natural part of this universe. Even the most bigoted can’t avoid or remove it, however hard they try. We don’t need to increase diversity; we need to block fruitless attempts to pretend it doesn’t exist.
Diversity is not a cause of prejudice or discrimination. People act in discriminatory and biased ways through ignorance, fear and low self-esteem. They seek validation of a sense of importance by imagining some superiority to others.
Bigoted people ignore the reality that there’s greater diversity within any grouping (men, women, black, white, gay, straight) than there is between these groupings. This rooted tendency to respond to uncertainty by imposing some personal security blanket on the world is what produces discrimination. What we can’t suppress, we fear.
Discrimination is totally illogical. You can’t show a rational reason to support it. Sadly, those who practice discrimination don’t use logic. They play on emotions, especially fear in the face of anything different.
They also praise belief above thought. Thought takes mental effort. It leaves you open to discovering you’re wrong about something. In contrast, belief is easy on the mind. You just do it. Belief says “this is the way it is,” regardless of any evidence to the contrary.
Thought is rational and (potentially) objective. Belief is emotional and always subjective. Thanks to an epidemic of sentimentality, emotions are “in.” They are “authentic.”
Sure, they’re authentic—provided they’re actually felt, not pretended for the sake of effect. But that doesn’t make what you feel true. Authentic means real, not correct. Lies are real. Ask anyone whose been tricked by a liar if the lies were real. Or the pain and loss they caused.
I’m constantly amazed at what people manage to believe. Still more amazing is the tenacity they show in clinging to those beliefs in the face of any evidence.
Knowledgeable people can be wrong—we’re all human and mistakes happen—but at least they have the chance to see where their errors exist and put things right. “True believers” cannot even admit the possibility of error. Once they do, their whole belief structure collapses.
The key to removing discrimination is the banishment of bigotry and fear. And the only way to do this is to remove ignorance wherever it’s found.
Adrian Savage is an Englishman and a retired business executive who lives in Tucson, Arizona. You can read his serious thoughts most days at Slow Leadership, the site for anyone who wants to bring back the taste, zest and satisfaction to leadership; and his crazier ones at The Coyote Within.
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Comments
Rosa says on February 14th, 2006 at 2:31 am
Your article today is very thought-provoking for me Adrian, for “belief” is a word I use very often – the article I wrote here recently for Leon on the 10 Beliefs of Great Managers is a good example.
I understand what you are saying here though, and I agree that “Thought takes mental effort. It leaves you open to discovering you’re wrong about something.” The ability to think, and our capacity for introspective thought are both gifts of our humanity.
I suppose it all comes down to our humility (i.e. our ability to be open-minded) our core intentions, and how successful we are at fighting fear in all its ugly manifestations so that we can be more rational thinkers.
Aloha helps greatly, Rosa Say
Heather says on February 14th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
It’s clear to me that you do “believe” in some absolute truth. Stating that someone could be “right” or “wrong”, or that they could “make mistakes” as humans shows this.
Somehow, in the deep core of your being you have an innate understanding that you are able to discern what is good and bad. Or maybe you “know” what is good/bad, right/wrong.
Another meaning, a more original one for the word “discrimination” is: The ability or power to see or make fine distinctions; discernment. (freedictionary.com)
I am not advocating treating someone differently because of how they look, act, dress, talk, walk, where they came from or anything of the sort. This is wrong.
However, let me draw a line in the sand. Having moral standards is not illogical. Though having moral standards for no apparant reason is. If there is no God, who has defined right and wrong for us, then it stands to reason that there is absolutely no point in caring about anything. All ethical thought would be pointless, children are beautiful, but with no God, there would be no real reason to protect them.
Knowing the difference between right and wrong, believing there is a right and wrong, or feeling something is right or wrong IS discriminating. BUT it is not discrimination as another definition of the word reads: Treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit; partiality or prejudice (freedictionary.com)
That said, every person has the freedom to decide whether they will stand up for what is right. To speak out against wrongdoing. This does not mean that we have the charge upon us to make everyone else do, think, or say the same things as us. But it does mean that we have the responsibility to bring these things to light.
In this country we still have a right to congregate with other like-minded individuals. We still have the right, if not the responsibility to be strongly partial to our own religion. If you cannot be strongly partial to it there is no sense subscribing to its beliefs. Especially if you have found your faith demands it of you! If a person cannot do this they are not free. God help us, we are not bigoted enough!! I do not “tolerate” as acceptable, sinful lifestyle. I happen to believe it is not right to live a life that is rebellious against God.
But, I do accept each person as a unique (or diverse), beautiful, valid, and important creation of God. I will not accept behaviour that is hateful, mean, perverse, or evil as ok for my life. I do make mistakes, and I have received the grace to cover those mistakes, but I strive to live a right life. And will gladly show others the way I know, believe, understand, and feel will get them there too. It is not about force, but free will. We are free. Make your decision freely.
JollyRancher says on February 15th, 2006 at 10:03 am
The real test of humility in this thread is willingness to change.
If you found out that there was a language that was better at expressing emotion and better at describing technical things, and it was superior to your language in every way… would you adopt it?
If the DNA scientists find a way treat unborn babies so that they would be resistant to all forms of disease for the rest of their lives, would you allow your child that gift if it meant they would resemble a different race than your own?
Becoming less selfish is a part of maturing.
Maturing involves changing who you are because you believe you can become something better.
David says on November 11th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
Smile to the spirits, seek magic and fear those that do not seek or smile
Fear ignorance and ignore fear
The worst enemy of the one that seeks is the one that does not seek-