•What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced
bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of
bias, prejudice, and/or oppression? Keep in mind that one can encounter such
incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in
fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows, and the like.
One incident that happened
where I witnessed people being bias towards someone of a different
religion happens almost on a daily basis on a forum that I frequent about the
current events occurring in my town.
Many people in the town are Orthodox Jews and have very strict and firm
religious beliefs. When they post
references on the site about the town, many people, often those who are not
from here will say remarks about their religion and how the town has been
overcome. The people have to constantly stand
up for their religion and defend their right to live in the town as much as
anyone else. It truly is sad to see how
one group of people is constantly being talked about in a negative manner.
•In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or
oppression in that incident diminish equity?
The bias about the group diminishes equity by not allowing
the town to come together as one and bond.
They stay with their own group of people due to the hateful words they
hear and sometimes even the hate crimes that occur. They feel safer being amongst their own and
know they will not hear those words when they stay together.
•What feelings did this incident bring up for you?
The incident brings a mixture of feelings. I feel sorry for both the Orthodox Jewish
people as well as the one’s making the hurtful crimes. The Orthodox Jews are trying to feel
comfortable and practice their freedom of speech and are being treated poorly
as a result. The one’s committing the
hate crimes are unaware of what feelings they are causing amongst the other group
as well as allowing their own judgment cloud their thinking about others. I also feel sad that a town cannot work
together as a whole for the sake of the children who are hearing and witnessing
all the hurtful words being thrown around.
•What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this
incident into an opportunity for greater equity?
The biggest thing that would have to change is the people who
are saying the hurtful words. They need
to be more aware of what they are saying and doing. The best thing for them to do is to place
themselves in the others shoes and see how they would like to be treated.
It is unfortunate that visiting this town can not be seen as an opportunity to learn about a very rich culture and as a time of sharing both for the Jewish community and new comers. Our country has such a horrible past in the treatment of Jews and things like this only perpetuate a long history of prejudice. Thank-you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHello Jacqueline, thank you for sharing. The Jewish community seems to be very rich community and they take care their own. Sophia
ReplyDeleteJacqueline,
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that people are mistreated or criticized because of their religious beliefs. There are some in each group who feel that everyone should believe the same way. People fail to realize that we are different people and beliefs. Those things are what makes the world interesting. I am a Christian, but I do not expect everyone to believe the way I do. Once I find out that someone have a different culture or religious belief, I take the time to ask and learn about it and the people. The information causes me to grow as a person. I do not have to change the way I believe, but it allows me to understand the person/people and their beliefs and why they believe the way they do.
Hi, I was sorry to hear about the blog that you mentioned about people in your town that are not respectful of other peoples religious beliefs. Its pretty sad that people will use hateful language when discussing religion when religion should in fact be the complete opposite of hate, which is love. I feel that sometime people get so caught up in wanting to be "right" that they don't realize how prejudice they are being. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAmber