windchymes -> RE: A Tolerant comunity ???? (7/20/2006 1:43:50 PM)
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There seems to be a basic human psychological trait in identifying with an organization or group or set of beliefs and then finding reason to point out the faults in those that don't belong to their groups or organizations, and then belittling the beliefs of others who don't agree with their own beliefs. For example, we want to belong to a certain church/religion, so OUR church is the most holy, WE are the only ones going to heaven, and all that don't belong to it are heathens who need to pray for their own forgiveness. We want to belong to a certain civic group, one who restricts membership to a certain race or financial status....even on college campuses, belonging to the "best" fraternity or sorority and looking down on those who didn't make the cut to get in. Or worse, the ones who joined the nerdy frat. Even being proud of the fact that so many are restricted from joining, and since you ARE in, you are better than those who are NOT in. Using the "Gor" example....as stated earlier those who are Goreans may think they're superior because they are the deepest, most 'real' and 'true', etc. etc. And the non-Goreans think they're superior because, well, those Goreans treat women like dirt and we have more respect for our women. (Those are just examples I'm throwing out here! It's not what I really believe!!! Don't inundate me with Gorean hate mail![;)]) I don't think I even need to go down the political road....those damn Dixie Chicks![;)] Or the skinny/overweight one....damn Paris Hilton! It just seems to be basic human nature. I think true maturity comes when we realize that we're all just people, and that we're lucky enough to live in a society where we CAN celebrate our individuality. And that our goodness comes from WHO we are, not WHAT we are.
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