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about Intolerance
Dec. 8th, 2011 08:45 pmWhen I read the newspaper I get really depressed for there are too many news which show how people are intolerant of other culture, different sense of values. Of Muslim culture, of gay people, of neighbouring countries each other. Intolerance itself is not new, it has always existed but it seems that recently people are not only intolerant but very aggressive, that's what disgusts me.
Of course we always tend to think like "WE ARE always right", any of us human being do. But we can correct our own narrow-mindedness and prejudice with our knowledge and logical mind, we have to do, so we can get along with other people even when we don't like them. We cannot love all the people around us but we might be able to understand them, or tolerate them at the worst. It has been our wisdom, hasn't it?
But now among the very severe problems it seems that the people, and the countries lost their inner reserves, could not afford to be genuine and kind to the others. Because in the difficult situation it's too easy for an ordinary man to run into the attitude that being tolerant to himself and blaming everything on others. Who is to blame for our difficulties and unhappiness? It's because of the refugees, the immigrants, of the heathens, of the rich or poor people, of the shameless Chinese, of those disgusting gay people. So it's just right to slander, evict, attack and bomb them! Well, well... it's the attitude of a silly child...
I have hated ethnocentrism all my life, because it's an easy and cheap way of thinking. Ordinary people are so lazy about deliberation, they leap at the simple answers, often choose an easy way. I know I have my own egoism of course, but having considered myself a kind of outsider, mentally, in my own country since my childhood, at least I don't think I am always right... maybe sometimes I might be right I hope, but not always, never. (And the truth is that there are not just "right" nor just "wrong" in this complex world...)
But when we belong to the majority of the society it's more difficult to find we might be wrong. Some people do not want to travel abroad, for it's not comfortable for them to be a stranger, a minority in other culture. But I believe when we were in the minority we'd find and learn more.
Now here in Japan there are many "right-wing" young people, it often means they hate Chinese or Korean people. As for me I had had no special favor nor hatred for Korean for years... until I found a very charming Korean friend about 10 years ago. Even now I'm ashamed for not having enough knowledge about their country & culture but her existence alone made Korea a familiar country for me. It's in Canada where I've become friends with her, there both of us were strangers, no ethnocentrism protected us from others.
Now I know we could find friends in any country, any culture... but only when we are individuals, not one of the majority.
And I think... if we are really confident of our value, why do we need to be intolerant of others? Whenever we are really sure about what we believe, we can be very calm, and tolerant. So if some people are intolerant and aggressive it means they are not truly confident of their belief... I cannot help thinking this way... especially when I see the Christian fundamentalists. Do they know in the deep of their mind that they are uncultured and their outlook is very narrow , ...or, are they just fools?
Of course we always tend to think like "WE ARE always right", any of us human being do. But we can correct our own narrow-mindedness and prejudice with our knowledge and logical mind, we have to do, so we can get along with other people even when we don't like them. We cannot love all the people around us but we might be able to understand them, or tolerate them at the worst. It has been our wisdom, hasn't it?
But now among the very severe problems it seems that the people, and the countries lost their inner reserves, could not afford to be genuine and kind to the others. Because in the difficult situation it's too easy for an ordinary man to run into the attitude that being tolerant to himself and blaming everything on others. Who is to blame for our difficulties and unhappiness? It's because of the refugees, the immigrants, of the heathens, of the rich or poor people, of the shameless Chinese, of those disgusting gay people. So it's just right to slander, evict, attack and bomb them! Well, well... it's the attitude of a silly child...
I have hated ethnocentrism all my life, because it's an easy and cheap way of thinking. Ordinary people are so lazy about deliberation, they leap at the simple answers, often choose an easy way. I know I have my own egoism of course, but having considered myself a kind of outsider, mentally, in my own country since my childhood, at least I don't think I am always right... maybe sometimes I might be right I hope, but not always, never. (And the truth is that there are not just "right" nor just "wrong" in this complex world...)
But when we belong to the majority of the society it's more difficult to find we might be wrong. Some people do not want to travel abroad, for it's not comfortable for them to be a stranger, a minority in other culture. But I believe when we were in the minority we'd find and learn more.
Now here in Japan there are many "right-wing" young people, it often means they hate Chinese or Korean people. As for me I had had no special favor nor hatred for Korean for years... until I found a very charming Korean friend about 10 years ago. Even now I'm ashamed for not having enough knowledge about their country & culture but her existence alone made Korea a familiar country for me. It's in Canada where I've become friends with her, there both of us were strangers, no ethnocentrism protected us from others.
Now I know we could find friends in any country, any culture... but only when we are individuals, not one of the majority.
And I think... if we are really confident of our value, why do we need to be intolerant of others? Whenever we are really sure about what we believe, we can be very calm, and tolerant. So if some people are intolerant and aggressive it means they are not truly confident of their belief... I cannot help thinking this way... especially when I see the Christian fundamentalists. Do they know in the deep of their mind that they are uncultured and their outlook is very narrow , ...or, are they just fools?