Discrimination….

Discrimination is prevalent throughout the world. Looking at that heading I guess you are saying she is right, she is on the button. It is a fact we live everyday with this expression so let’s get down to the wire…..

My intentions today are not to debate about the race card but to raise the awareness of where it begins – with you and me.

The lack of consideration and verbal abuse we have for each other, the pronouncements that come out of our mouths to our children, friends and sometimes strangers, can be quite shameful at times, don’t you agree?

To a certain extent often times we discriminate the helpless ones. Those who are born with a birth defect such as the blind or handicap, we never really give a second thought. Furthermore, often quite unintentionally we may make some uncanny remark about them. I think the only time we don’t discriminate the disabled is when we are circling a filled car park looking for a parking space and the only ones available are those reserved for the handicap.

But seriously do we ever give it some thought of how easily we judge each other and make assertions of the character of people without really knowing the person. Those of us who are parents often warn our kids about playing with some children if we find that the child’s background is not to our liking. Or we stand around the office gossiping about another coworker who we think doesn’t fit into our ideology or doesn’t dress a certain way. Or as we say so popularly in Trinidad “Mih blood just doh take she nah!” and use this as sufficient reason to just not like someone and treat them unkindly.

My friends, these actions as small and insignificant as they may seem is the source of the bigger problem we have come to label as “discrimination” and we must remember that life can be a vicious circle. Therefore much of the negative experiences we see around us today are a result of these little bad habits we have subconsciously nurtured and allowed to become part of our character.

So is it possible for us to become more heartening? Can we stop segregating ourselves from each other and learn to be a bit more inclusive and tolerant of those who may seem different from us but are similar in more ways than we can imagine? Can we make a difference by adding a little more dignity to ourselves before setting off the firecracker, better known as our tongue?

Message to my Readers:

Let us decide to make an oath together that we will be less disrespectful and insulting to each other in the year 2011 onwards. It has been my personal belief that the world needs more RESPECT, not love, as it is difficult for us to love people we don’t know but it is always possible to extend some respect. FANGA!