Blog - racism

     
       Not long ago in class, we had a discussion concerning racism. During that discussion it was stated several times by certain members of the class that racism could, and likely will, dissipate until it no longer exists in our society. The idea is that people, over the next few decades, will all decide that they no longer recognize the difference in each other and will come to forget them, leaving only people, who all live in harmony. This proposal is of course, preposterous. The very idea of stripping people of their unique characteristics, of wanting to stop the recognition of differences in each other, an innate human function, is not only idealistic, but reminiscent of a distopic, movie-like society ruled by a "benevolent" leader. THAT is what a world where racism doesn't exist sounds like. Racism is a terrible thing, however, I feel it is the lesser of two evils, for complete and utter sameness in the world, it wouldn't be our world, it wouldn't be humanity, it would be the censored shadow of a once great society, bleak and lifeless, crushed in normal. Why must I create such an extreme scenario you ask? Because the only way to eliminate racism would be to eliminate differences in humans. To erase color, culture, language, and preference. For as long as difference exists, so does preference, and as long as independent thought exists, so does opinion. And as long as opinion, preference, and independent thought, all exist in the same environment, you will have negative thoughts, and you will end up with racism. It is sad, but humans by nature,although capable of love and good, are hostile and violent. As long as it is possible to hate, there will be people in the world who hate. Of course that's not to say that things can progress, improve, obviously they have, however complete elimination of an idea that has existed as long as humans have, is no a feasible option. You cannot control everyone in the world, and you certainly cannot control their thoughts. People will always have likes and dislikes, people will always have personalities of their own, some kind and peaceful, others cruel and hateful. As long as free will exists, there will always be those who choose to hate. However, it is that ability to choose, that makes us human. Although cruel, it is someones right as a human being to like certain things, and dislike certain things. So although violence and murder is against the law, people will always be free to hate what they want to hate. So to any who would like to eliminate racism, take a look at what a "perfect" world looks like in the novel and film," The Giver ". As said by the ruler of that "perfect" society," When people have the freedom to choose, they choose wrong." This is what awaits any who feel racism can just end, any who feel that the basic, innate human function to recognize difference in other humans can simply stop.