We all have unique experiences that form our view of others. I was born in a segregated hospital. My earliest memory of colored people was as a scared fifth grader going to public school for the first time. Some colored kids were nice to me when nobody else was. A tragic experience several years later hardened my heart. Even then, I tried being polite to everyone regardless of race. Time healed that wound and softened my heart. I realized the wisdom in Dr. King’s words about seeing individuals rather than groups. I learned that ignorance breeds anger just as gentleness is born of wisdom.
It’s easy to lump groups of people together based on race, religion, or political affiliation. We all interact with people who are in a group we may not understand or even like. Individuals will almost always be respectful of each other without focusing on petty differences. A group mentality allows us to label other groups and justify treating them disrespectfully. Most conflict can be avoided by simply seeing others as individuals and treating them with the same respect we expect. Kindness and bitterness are equally infectious. Spreading kindness and showing respect are easy ways to be the change we want to see in our shared world.
It’s easy to lump groups of people together based on race, religion, or political affiliation. We all interact with people who are in a group we may not understand or even like. Individuals will almost always be respectful of each other without focusing on petty differences. A group mentality allows us to label other groups and justify treating them disrespectfully. Most conflict can be avoided by simply seeing others as individuals and treating them with the same respect we expect. Kindness and bitterness are equally infectious. Spreading kindness and showing respect are easy ways to be the change we want to see in our shared world.
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