The most common problems regarding prejudice are those aimed at people with different skin colour and those with different sexual preferences. There are others of course and we will touch on them too in this post. It is easy to say that we are an open-minded person if we accept and respect gays and black people but are we really so open-minded if we still carry on some weird opinions about people who believe in a different God, wear different clothes, listen to different music or live their lives differently?

Are we seeing ourselves as we are or as we would like to be seen?

Before we continue this post here is a little test that will help you determine if you are carrying prejudices without even being aware of them. Answer these questions and count your "yes" ones.

1. Do you think black people are more probable to commit crimes?
2. Are gays unnormal people?
3. Are people who voted for Trump stupid?
4. Do you think people who have many sexual partners immoral?
5. Are people who listen to punk, metal, pop, trance weird?
6. Are Muslims terorists?
7. Are Christians pedofiles?
8. Do you think old people can not use modern technology?
9. Are you better than those who live in a different country?
10. Are vegetarians just bad hunters?
11. Do you think people who eat meat are bad or murderers?
12. Are all people who are rich corrupted?
13. Are poor people incapable or lazy?
14. Do you think conspiracy theorists are stupid?
15. Are people with a lot of tattos vandals or criminals?
16. Do you think women are the weaker sex?
17. Do you think men do not have feelings?
18. Are people who believe there is no man climate change uneducated?
19. Are people who believe there is a man climate change delusional?
20. Is your parenting style better than others?

How many yes answers do you have? This is not one of those tests where you will get graded depending on the level you ended up in. I think you already know how many yes answers I think you should have. That number is technically not even a number, it is nothing, a zero. Keep in mind that I did write "I think you should have" because having a prejudice against people who have prejudice is still a prejudice.

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”
Audre Lorde

As long as you are not hurting another human being in any way, you will never be judged by me. Here, you are loved. Here, you are accepted as you are.

Where do prejudices come from?

I never have prejudices against people with prejudices because I have learned where those prejudices come from. That knowledge is experience based so there is a chance I could be wrong but honestly, it is highly improbable.

Unless we are talking about serious mental illness, people do not hate and people do not hurt other people unless they feel threatened in some way. We are often afraid of different things because they are new and unfamiliar and because we think they will have an impact on our lives. Whenever you see a person who is a racist or against LGBT people, you can be sure he or she has some serious problems with his own insecurities. Those people believe they are better and superior because they need to believe it to feel secure.

“Never judge others. You both know good and well how unexpected events can change who a person is. Always keep that in mind. You never know what someone else is experiencing within their own life.”
Colleen Hoover

I know it is hard and I know it is difficult to accept people with prejudices. I am not saying you have to love them (although I urge you to try) but as long as they are not physically expressing those prejudices they do have a right to their opinion. Try to see where that opinion is coming from. Try to talk to that person and educate him or her. There is a way to beat the prejudice...

LOVE and EDUCATION are the biggest enemies of prejudices.

Is there a cure?

Yes, yes there is. I have already stated that the root of prejudice is the fear of unknown and/or different. When a person is exposed to diversity there is no room for discrimination. I have seen people being forced to work or collaborate with gey people for a period of time and then say "Well, they are normal." Of course, they are, now that you have gotten to know them, lol. I have seen people who listen to different music, cheer for different sport clubs, believe in different Gods and being of different nationalities live and laugh together. It is possible.

“Prejudice of any kind implies that you are identified with the thinking mind. It means you don’t see the other human being anymore, but only your own concept of that human being. To reduce the aliveness of another human being to a concept is already a form of violence.”
Eckhart Tolle

You can call me naive and say that I am utopist but I do believe that the World without prejudices and discrimination is possible. We just need to learn more and love more and that is not that hard as you might think. Learning and loving is easy if you want it to be. Do you want it to be? You may even say that I am a dreamer, but that beetle boy with funny glasses said it right a while ago:

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

John Lennon

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made by @simgirl

Are you carrying prejudices?

Where do prejudices come from?

Is there a cure?

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."