Introduction

One Book referred Prejudice as a Virus which can harm its victims while they are aware that they are infected. It's a powerful social vices with huge negative effects. People can be hated, misjudged or prejudiced by others because of their tribe, nationality, language, skin color, height, religion, gender or ever social classes. They will get biased or poorly treatment because of their age, education, disabilities or physical morphological features. Yet. They still justified themselves and think that it's normal.

We are quick to recognize when others have been Prejudiced but failed to notice it in ourselves. It's a known fact that we have prejudice others to some degrees or forms. For example, In Nigeria, being an igbo make it hard for me to see others from other tribe as being good people or hardworking individuals. We have derogatory words for them and so they are too. But meeting one person from there, I usually treat that person differently and honestly not knowing that I did that. This is true because we usually make some generalized statements or hate speech about a tribe or religious groups without even having direct contact or dealings with one person from that group.

Many governments or organizations have enacted laws for peaceful coexistence and fight racism or other forms of Prejudice. But it still persist and continues. The reason is simple. Those laws are made for address person's actions but can't change their thoughts and emotional feelings. Prejudice starts from the mind and heart which have been negatively influenced and taught by many years and forms. Can we really be fight against Prejudice and win the battle? What are some principles that can help us to combat this social menace?

Principles That Can Combat Prejudice.

These principles have been proven to help to win over several forms of Prejudice and they are very practical. Adopting them can be hard at first but it can be habit which will improve our relationships with others and show love to them too. Let's talks about them.

Be Factual and Truth about Others.

Prejudice often starts from misinformation about others. It can be propagated to cause division, hatred and other personal gains especially by politicians and greedy merchants. For example, Jews was accused of poisoning the wells and spreading of diseases falsely. They are slandered for causing economic crisis. These two cases have resulted in the Jews becoming victims of Prejudices and hatred which can still notice till today.

People might even believe on myths with some points or alleged evidence that seems to confirm their bias or misleading information about others. They even strongly oppose others that disagree with them and even label them ignorant or saboteurs.

Knowing the truth about others will help other, not to believe or act wrongly on others. We will never assume or conclude very fast without knowing the truth about others. For instance, Igbos think of the Yorubans, another tribe in Nigeria as being junk eaters. They are called "oily eater" which suggests that their delicacy is usually being filled with all kinds of oils. But knowing that they did not have enough palm trees for cooking oil for their soups make me feel sorry for what I have known for years about them. They eat proteinous and spicy food even than Igbos but many still don't know.

Knowing that we have limited knowledge about others can help us to fight against Prejudice. Sources of our information about others can be questioned and widen to know more about others. For example, many white people still think that blacks does not enjoy amenities and lacks good homes. They still look down on us as bamboos from the forests. Although the level of sophistication is vast, respect and love should be shown to us that we are developing and standing tall over times.

Be Empathetic Of Others.

Empathy can simply means to understand others in their situation and feel what they feels. It can help us to be aware of their problems and understand how closely we are. We will understand clearly why they react, the ways they do. A good example is in the person of Jesus, He came to the earth and lives with humans. Having suffer with them, helped him to be empathetic about us and try his best to understand and helps humanity. He demonstrates that in various miraculous acts.

Focusing on how we different from each other can fuel racism and other forms of Prejudice. We can quickly concluded that those differences are flaws or defects which will deepen our negative views about them thereby making it difficult to show empathy and understanding that we are one race - human race. For instance, many people still look down on women and take them as being inferior to men. Truly, genetically men are different from women but it does not make them inferior. There are good examples of womens with wonderful achievement and good deeds which men should learn from them. Ngozi Okonjo Iwela, The president of World Trade Organization is a woman of great deeds and many others.

We all are valuable and skilled to achieve our success and deeds. Improving on ourselves and utilizing every opportunities to be great will help us and boost our self esteem especially when others ridicules or Prejudiced us in any ways. Feeling special and important will keep us going forward and knowing that it's the abusers' fault, not us.

Acknowledging The Strength Of Others.

Perfectionism and egotism always leads to Prejudice. People like that thinks they are better than others. They feels superior and play "Gods" in every matters. People still feel that they have better food, culture, dress, habits and values than others making them superior. But can it be truth?

Every culture and their habits are good to their people. With careful examination, we can identify some level of development and sophistication in other's ways of doing things and adopt that for our good. For example, Romans are known for adoption and assimilation of every good ways of doing things by other people. Their best becomes theirs and help them to be great and success. Same approach is what Marshall plan suggests where the best from other nations are utilized for great American goals and interests.

Humility will help us to notice the strength of others and acknowledge that our tribe is not a monopoly of all good qualities and abilities. Learning from them and show them respect will help to fight Prejudice and hatred. Even if they have opposing views of issues like religion, finance, entertainment and well-being, be respectful and humble will help to be friendly and caring to them despite the differences.

We should be realistic and understand that we are imperfect with flaws. It will helps us to recognize that others are strong where ever we are weak. Never think or assumed that everyone in a particular have same flaws which is bad and hard for peaceful coexistence.

Finally

Prejudice and it's forms are very demeaning and it's negative effects. It have set humans apart and it's outcomes are not motivation and inspirational. But we can win over them but recognizing it's effects and equipping ourselves with principles that helps us to win over them freely.

Source And Read More From: Awake! "Is There A Cure For Prejudice"