People are so judgemental about that to which they are not exposed. The group hunts out and attacks that which it deems to be “other”.
When I was a kid I used to have shockingly bad opinions on certain minority groups. Mostly, I won’t have learned that from my parents — but at the same time, I was brought up in a very middle class white Christian-or-nothing neighbourhood. It was many years before I could count amongst my friends — or even people I knew — anyone who wasn’t white, or wasn’t presumably heterosexual, or wasn’t able-bodied.
As a result: ignorance held sway, and where ignorance leads, prejudice follows. Hence the shocking opinions of the past.
I value being able to count amongst my friends people of colour, people with physical disability, with neuro-diversity. L, G, B, T, queer, intersex, genderfluid people. Those in poly relationships. Having them in my life helps to reduce my ignorance.
And hopefully that helps me to be, just slightly, a better person.
Is that selfish? It almost seems selfish.
Anyway. Thank you 💜