Look at people, not stereotypes

In the past several months we all have been challenged at the way we view the world.

Words like racism and bigotry come up. Harsh words with harsh connotations to be sure. But if we're truly honest with ourselves, we all carry preconceived notions, ideas and thoughts about groups of people.

For example, haven't we given blondes a bad shake? Especially blonde women? Are Asian boys and girls all gifted in math? The several times I traveled to Africa, people there assumed all Americans are rich. The French are romantic, the Irish love to drink, Italians good lovers, Jewish people are cheap and rednecks aren't very bright. All of these are stereotypes.

A while back, I watched '42” the movie about Jackie Robinson, the first black baseball player to play in the Major Leagues. In one scene when Robinson came to bat, the crowd hurled horrible insults toward him. One 12 year-old son watched and listened to his father shout all kinds of racial slurs to Robinson. The boy looked flabbergasted and confused but soon cupped his hands and started shouting the same insults at Robinson. He watched and learned how to develop hatred.

The stereotypes are myriad. We get bits and pieces of 'knowledge” from who-knows-where and then we develop a generalization about that entire group. I'm 62 years old and when I was growing up, tattoos were mostly taboo. Only men from the Navy got them or tough hoodlums against mainstream society. Nice girls never would even think of getting one! Today just about everyone has one. Back in my day, only guys rode motorcycles. Remember the movie 'Easy Rider” and those Billy Jack movies?

So what do we do? First of all, acknowledge that we do have certain biases. Nothing wrong with that, as long as we don't use those biases to pass judgment on an entire group of people. And secondly, we all should try hard to see everyone as individuals and not lump them into an entire group.

Finally we should as well as we can to live by one simple rule, which is probably found in every religion and faith ...”Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

' John Sheda is pastor of Living Water Church in Independence. Comments: jsheda@indytel.com.