I think in terms of mutable and immutable characteristics.
We can choose to have integrity, dignity, honesty-- things he chooses not to. We can’t choose our ethnicity, surname at birth, bone structure, childhood hardship.
People find it acceptable to make fun of people enacting character they don’t like by transferring to things they don’t understand or don’t regularly encounter.
Think about some feature of yourself that’s unusual but immediately apparent. I have a large facial mole, for instance. Think about how it sucks when people put down that feature for no good reason. It fucking sucks.
Then try to imagine: the thing that’s unusual is something everyone in your family, or your community, or your culture, possesses. Maybe it’s even a source of dignity and pride, like wearing a turban to show your religious devotion. But most of the majority culture doesn’t understand or regularly encounter it, so it’s just a joke. Or a threat. Or a scapegoat. It’s hard to tell the difference, sometimes.
I think in terms of mutable and immutable characteristics.
We can choose to have integrity, dignity, honesty-- things he chooses not to. We can’t choose our ethnicity, surname at birth, bone structure, childhood hardship.
People find it acceptable to make fun of people enacting character they don’t like by transferring to things they don’t understand or don’t regularly encounter.
Think about some feature of yourself that’s unusual but immediately apparent. I have a large facial mole, for instance. Think about how it sucks when people put down that feature for no good reason. It fucking sucks.
Then try to imagine: the thing that’s unusual is something everyone in your family, or your community, or your culture, possesses. Maybe it’s even a source of dignity and pride, like wearing a turban to show your religious devotion. But most of the majority culture doesn’t understand or regularly encounter it, so it’s just a joke. Or a threat. Or a scapegoat. It’s hard to tell the difference, sometimes.