How do you block out images of racism and hatred?

Question

It's one thing when it's words or something you read but it's an entirely different story when you can actually put a face on it. Recently, I just watched a documentary where they were interviewing random ordinary people from all different backgrounds on the streets of SF. It wasn't just the things they were saying directly into the camera - but their tone of voice and seeing their facial expressions filled with so much hate, anger, and resentment really upset me because some of us are so used to people acting polite to your face and not realizing how much hatred they might be harboring underneath. And right now, I can't seem to get the images out of my head. What do you do to block out these images?

Answer 1

I just consider the source. I figure they are lacking in intelligence and education and are not a true representation of the majority of us. Think of it this way, they are fulfilling last day prophecy and because of them we can truly say in the not too far off future, "It is finished, finally". Mmm

Answer 2

This may sound cruel but i mean well. Don't ever 4get r remove these images from your head keep them as a constant reminder of the people u don't want 2 be. All people have some form of discrimination it may be small like u might think 2 yourself "uh-that lady is 2 fat or look at that person they r ugly r unattractive" even though these are different form of discrim/if u react 2 these people different from everyone else it hurts them. We need 2 stay conscious of our actions and thoughts, i no it is hard but we have 2. We don't realize our thoughts turn into actions. When u c them images remind yourself 2 b more sensitive 2 everyones needs, u don't want look like those people do u?

Answer 3

I simply live my life the way I feel I should. Most of the racism and hatred are unfortunately fostered from parents to their children and it stays in a vicious cycle. I have taught my sons the same as my parents taught me that people are people, no matter what race, religion, or personal preference. You must make your own personal decisions in life as to who you like. One should never hate anything, maybe dislike, but never hate. Hate only fosters more hate. Thankfully they both have friends of all natures. This is how I wish everyone could be!!

Answer 4

I am a caucausian male so honestly, for the most part, I haven't expirenced racism aganist myself.

I really don't know why there is so much hatred aganist people. Some people were born and taught to hate by their parents and idols. Like those groups that have so much hatred aganist gays. You just know that they were taught to hate by their superiors.

I am not a racist person at all, I have tons of races in my family and I really am proud of that. My nephew Aaron has dealt with so much crap though because he is black and really disturbs me. He only turned 13 last January and he has already put up with too many fights and name-calling at school (and outside of school.)

But, this is a subject that definitely disturbs me greatly.

I know I probably didn't help you with your question but you have at least one person that is by your side. :)

Answer 5

Remember that Only God

(who actually IS God, because only He can maintain himself and understand this with no participation or judgement of it, )

...understands that the juxtaposition and differences in life, are in place and in constant action through the interatction of humanity. All of its differences each hold up their own polar opposite state and condition.

There is an old song by Bad Company called "No smoke without a fire." It is true~

Without racists and bigots and the like... No one would glory in their diversity and see how very special they really are as indivisuals as a direct result of the adversity provided them in the form of a bigot or a racist.

It's true. You value anything... By the state of its seemingly counterproductive opposite condition..

That is exactly why there is a devil darling...

Why there is darkness
Why there is hate
It is how currency works
How politics work
Nature works...
why there is rude
why there is road rage...

Get it?

John Lennon was a shortsided idiot... There is no utopia, no valhalla, no perfect place on earth without hatred or violence... Because we require all of these things in order to realize and then actualize heaven...

Those who are brave and stupid enough to shake their fist at God in accusation for what they believe are His mistakes concerning the value of such things... usually are brave and stupid and nothing more.

Answer 6

The only thing, in my humble opinion of course, is to replace it with things that are pleasant or pleasing to your mind. Watch a movie, or a documentary about people that are truly not racist and view the world in a united way not split into little pockets of racists. Watch a good comedy. Read a good book. Go to the park and do people watching.
People are full of hate and racists for many reasons. None of them logical or based in reality. They are just uneducated or unreceptive to what is real. Actually they are to be pitied. Can you imagine living your life in a lie, and that lie filling you with hate, and making your time on Earth full of negativity. Nah, feel sorry for them, my brother, for they truly know not what they do.

Answer 7

Racism is not inevitable!

If you recognise racism in yourself you are half way to defeating it.

If you see racism is others confront it.

While Islam has one fundamental prejudice; the total abhorrence of apostates (to the extent of wanting to kill them) there is almost no racism. The Arabs are a bit of a worry but I guess that their arrogance is more cultural than racist.

Multi culturalism and tolerance in Australia may not be perfect
but compared to the bigotry I have seen in the USA and elsewhere we are the "Good Guys".

Answer 8

Sadly, you must come to the realization that the world has always been full of hatred in all forms and always will. It is the Nietche duality of man thing. Try to look for the good things in people. Do what you can to promote understanding within your sphere of influence and understand that you cannot change the world.

Answer 9

I know what you saw and now feel is horrible, but this is something that you should remember and never forget it's ugliness, it's mindless savagery, it's ignorant, brutal intolerance, so that you can be a witness, so that maybe one day you and I, and and millions of others may rise up one day and say "NO MORE". And the only way to achieve that will be thru our children and their children's children.

Do not forget it, never forget it. There are people now who calim that the Holocaust never happened! 6 million jews, gypsies, poles, Romainins, Yogoslavians, Danes, homosexuals, disabled, retarded, old, young, men, women, and children - shot, gased, poisoned, buried alive, burned and buried in mass graves

Racism has been pandemic thru out the ages, and the irony is that Organized Religion is right there in the MIddle of it all, and it always will be. Shame, Shame, Shame. Yes some people say that nationalism & ethnicity are just as big a culprits - but I say no - peel back the national issues and the ethnic dividers and what basic differences do you find? Religion You say not true - you have Muslum fighting muslum in the Mid-east. I say break it down - you have Suni fighting Shite. That's like baptist going toe-to-toe with Calvinists. Hardly interchangable bretheren.

Anyway, I digress, As awful as it is - let it serve as a constant reminder of the fragile, thin & taut veneer that our laws provide us as an umbrella of freedom from agression in our "civilized" society.

And as for those of you out there who claim to not be racist, I think you are fooling yourself, or lying to yourself, or you never had any exposure what so ever to living in an environment where there were any other people other than your those who looked and spoke as you do.

Ask any service man or big city inner city dwellwer , (and I'm not talking about your officers, and your yuppies. I'm talking about your average GI Joes and your working men and women living in 6 story walk ups, with no elevators. Black, White, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Sudanese, Hatian, - etc.

Ask a 30 year old white woman walking downtown at 7:00 at night in Chicago - which is not late by any means on Rush or Division, and 5 young men in their twenties are walking towards her laughing, joking, hi-fiving each-other, Dressed in baggy pants, oversized ski jackets, tennies, due rags on their heads, lots of bling around their necks. They are in a good mood - not paying any attention to her, but they are taking up most of the side walk as they approach her. They are white, medium length hair cuts, no tats, no face metal. How do you think she feels as they approach. She has pepper spray in the outside pocket of her purse, Describe how she is feeling and what if anything she does.

Now before you answer - answer based on what you honestly think would ACTUALLY happen - not what would be politically correct - or how we SHOULD react - or NOT react.

Same situation. Boys are Mexican. Now Black. Same reaction everytime? If you said yes - I think you lie.

Same situation. Now woman is Black. Same results? Same situation now the woman is Mexican. Same reactions?

Same situation. Now instead of woman, our pedestrian is a 70 year old man. Same reaction?

While part of racism may have it's roots in a primordial response, - ie: "We fear what we do not know" -or- "That which is strange or new is best assumed to be dangerous or lethal until proven otherwise" - Law of Survival - Right up ther with "Do not pet the pretty Cobra." THe bulk of racism is a learned behaviour, one of fear and hate, - that's right FEAR. People still fear the difference between the races - but it has to be learned!

Put a group of babies together say 24 individuals total.

4 ethic groups. white / black / asian / mexican.

In each ethnic group 3 males and 3 females.

Let these children interact with one another from 6 months through age 5.

Do you think you will find any racism? Any sexism? Nope? I don't think so either, - as long as the parents, siblings, and others (actively and consciously),do not in anyway address those issues. There is also no radio or TV for these infants. And no reading material that might contain references to differences in the sexes or skin color or ethnicity. As they notice differences, the differnces should be acknowledged. LIke if a white child points out the darker skin of the black child , you might say "Yes. Pretty! and Kiss point to the skin on both baby's arms and kiss the skin of both" This I think is one way to eradicate racism and bigotry.. Well Good luck, I am sorry you have to carry these images, but think of it as one of the more unpleasant rights of passage.

Answer 10

Don't block them. Remember them. Being upset at that sort of thing is good, and if that sort of thing upsets you, remember it the next time you make a snap decision that is based on race or a stereotype.