No one is born with prejudices.

[sheshe2]

FB
https://www.facebook.com/ArmedDemocrats

[firsttimer]

1. I think it's impossible to grow up with out having some prejudices

That poster is in my opinion referring to racism.

[Tansy_Gold]

2. "You've got to be carefully taught."

Rogers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific" was almost banned because of that message.

[niyad]

7. here

[brewens]

3. I used the "N-word" one day after having just moved to a new neighborhood.

I was six and had been playing with a neighbor kid and a kid from a few blocks away that I had just met. The other kid was saying it so I figured it was okay. Not so much! I got my butt spanked by my mom!

My dad was a white WWII vet from Montana via S.Dakota and my mom was also from Montana. I mean way the heck out there in eastern Montana, a little town called Ekalaka. You didn't use racial slurs at our house. I grew up pretty much not even knowing what a Jew was or caring, until I saw a mini-series on The Holocaust I think. I didn't know or think much about any religion actually. I suppose I was supposed to be a Christian of some sort. I remember some Sunday school and went to church on holidays and stuff like that. Not enough to really be indoctrinated and definitely not be prejudiced toward other religions. Now I think they all made all that stuff up.

I'm guilty of for a time thinking I had a problem with our local Native American and gay people in a way. That was all learned, growing up in our part of Idaho. I unlearned it. The gay part was never hatred though. It doesn't make it much better but that always struck me as funny. Having a real good friend come out as gay years ago solved that. You'd be surprised maybe, knowing his bunch of high school friends from a redneck area, that every one of us accepted that and are still good friends. Only one guy was a little hard on him but he came around. Maybe because he would have been the one that was disowned? Oh well. If that's what it took, it's all cool now.

[sheshe2]

4. You are a good person, brewens. nt

[Silent3]

5. Some research has shown that it's avoidance of prejudice that may need to be taught...

...with prejudice being what you're born with. Here's one such study:

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/releases/babies-prefer-individuals-who-harm-those-that-arent-like-them.html

There have been others. Sorry to say, but it could be that preference for people who are in your "in group", and prejudice against those viewed as outsiders or different, might be the more natural state of human behavior.

[NoOneMan]

11. But such dispositions don't naturally manifest to burning crosses

That's just a careful distinction for those who use this as a crutch to justify close-mindedness.

At the end of the day, there is a lot of human behaviors that stem from genetic predispositions, but culture puts them on steroids

[WillyT]

6. For You...

DULink: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002623564

[sheshe2]

8. WillyT...

Thank you so much for the link. I have some reading to do.



That was a great thread.

[WillyT]

9. Anytime sheshe2, Anytime...

It was one HELL of an eye opening class.

[sheshe2]

10. Of that I have no doubt~

Peace~