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Very interesting . . . I too have pondered the issue from time to time.
It seems that it is somehow an extension of the natural learning process of all people in general.
In order to understand our environment, we tend to generalize, or categorize the things around us, this includes other people. Some are able to overcome this natural flaw, others are not.
Imagine if we were to have a conversation about women. everyone would have some generalizations based on their own experiences, or based on the things that they have heard from others. A woman that dresses according to "Style A" . . . is a "slut" . . . a woman that dresses according to "Style C" . . . is a business woman . . . and so the conversation would go . . .
I believe it's just the way our minds work . . . life is easier if we don't have to rethink every individual situation that we are in . . .
It' easier for us to generalize situations, people, surroundings, so that we can focus on the specific issues that require more thought. Unfortunately, in our society the generalizations that are made about certain ethnicities leads to a ranking according to superiority.
Somewhere along the line, way before you or I were birthed into this mess, the assumption was made that some races are superior to others. If you ask me, it's the same mentality that led to the holocaust, minus the violence . . . every ethnicity believes in themselves as better than others as a whole . . . it's a generalization along the lines of cultural pride . . . patriotism if you will.
On a personal level, we can often get beyond these ignorant views by getting to know individuals on a one-on-one basis . . . that's why most ofus have friends of other nationalities, ethnicities, religions, etc. Even so, the generalizations that we have learned in the past will help us to get through the day to day interactions that are necessary to get through life . . .
For example, cab drivers are known to be aggressive . . . fact or falsehood, once armed with this information we use that to know we ought to drive more aggressive or to yield when driving near a cab driver . . . right or wrong, it works for us . . . we can come up with a reasonable plan for dealing with a cab driver that will give us a reasonable guarantee of safety when in their presence.
I could go on . . . I've got too much work to do
Good thread . . .
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