Anyway, something captured my attention last night. e-Harmony is being sued for discriminating against gay people. Without getting into the specifics of that, I really wanted to raise another question.
It is difficult for me to grasp discrimination. The idea of exclusion is anathema to my sensibilities -- separatism seems such a waste of energy and spirit. Anyone who has read more than two of my posts knows how distasteful it is to me. I believe we have an obligation to grow up and put away childish things, to be more expansive, more mature, more loving and kind.
But I reserve a special distaste for those who discriminate based on something that someone has no control over, such as skin color or sexual preference. In my mind, the only thing that justifies exclusion is bad behavior.
It's unfortunate when formerly targeted groups turn out to be no more inclusive than the world at large. I'm sure in their minds they figure, hey, we're all just human and making it through the world under the weight of our various loads of baggage loads -- and sometimes, in the name of comfort or self preservation or whatever, we choose to be selective about the people with whom we associate.
So at what point does this become okay? At what point is it okay to say "I don't like that person, simply for who he is and I choose to not include him ~ and additionally, I'll keep my friends from doing it, too."
So I ask... when is this behavior justified?
Peace,
~Chani
It is difficult for me to grasp discrimination. The idea of exclusion is anathema to my sensibilities -- separatism seems such a waste of energy and spirit. Anyone who has read more than two of my posts knows how distasteful it is to me. I believe we have an obligation to grow up and put away childish things, to be more expansive, more mature, more loving and kind.
But I reserve a special distaste for those who discriminate based on something that someone has no control over, such as skin color or sexual preference. In my mind, the only thing that justifies exclusion is bad behavior.
It's unfortunate when formerly targeted groups turn out to be no more inclusive than the world at large. I'm sure in their minds they figure, hey, we're all just human and making it through the world under the weight of our various loads of baggage loads -- and sometimes, in the name of comfort or self preservation or whatever, we choose to be selective about the people with whom we associate.
So at what point does this become okay? At what point is it okay to say "I don't like that person, simply for who he is and I choose to not include him ~ and additionally, I'll keep my friends from doing it, too."
So I ask... when is this behavior justified?
Peace,
~Chani
