People regarded as different or the same......

[Arkham Noir]

One of the biggest problems in the world today is the way people treat each other. Whether it be the because somebody is gay , black ,from a different country, they act different, etc., people just don't seem to be capable of getting over differences and learning to treat everybody equally.

The Idea of this thread is which is the best way for society as a whole to move past this and treat everyone equal; by considering everybody the same and treating everyone equally, or , by acknowleding people as different than you but respecting it anyways.

On the one hand, everybody being acknowledged as the same would prevent the idea of someone ever being considered different, and would therefore prevent stereo-typing and generalizing any race or group of people. Not even thinking that "this is an asian man", but that he is "a man".

On the other hand, I think it is important for differences to be celebrated and incouraged. Living in a world where people are no longer thought of as being unique or different than everybody else just doesn't seem like a good idea to me. However, this will always cause people to instictivly think of people as being different and not the same as you , but in a bad way.

So what do you think? Which is a better way of thinking?

 

[Ultra Awesome]

I don't believe that idea of yours would work. People are very discriminant creatures. No matter what the reason, whether it be a small or a big one, people are seen discriminating all the time. Mexicans, Blacks, Jews, Asian, etc--all of these people look and sometimes even act different than one another thus causing these so-called stereotypes. Sure it can be classified as wrong. Afterall, in the end, Blacks are people; Mexiacns are people; Asians are people; Jews are people. So would that not mean that they are all the same as they are all people?

But no, just because they are people does not make them the same. People have different characteristics from one another as well as different personalities. The thing here is that it is these very characteristics and personalities that are able to to tell you apart from another. Where one guy could be an out-going genius, the other could be a couch potato; where one guy acts like the typical mexican, the other acts like the typical white person. Thus, creating these differences and ultimately the uniqueness that you speak of.

No one on the planet can trully be the exact same as another. There will always be one thing, no matter how small or big it may be, that seperates him (or her) from the other person. Therefore, the idea that all people can be considered the same is irrelevent as it can never happen.

The only problem with being different, however, is that it often times leads to discrimination. Whether it be because of the way you act or because of the way you look, the typical jokes that set you apart (and often times make you feel inferior to the other) ultimately leads to being seen as "different". And that is where stereotypes, gays, etc come into play.

It might be considered wrong to be discriminant against another, but the fact of the matter is that such is life. People will always be considered different no matter what the case; no matter how small the issue, they are different. Of course, stereotypes aren't pretty and niether is racism. But these two and many more contribute to what we live in--reality.

 

[LSN80]

Make no mistake about it- individuality is the backbone of what makes us who we are as people. Its what should be acknowledged, praised, and respected in all people.

We as people attempt too much to look for the similarities we have with others. But the fact that remains that despite sharing the same culture, genes, ideals, values, and religion, we can still be very different people. There are some things we are born with, such as race, culture, and genes. Other things are engrained into us from an early age, such as culture, values, and religion. The rest comes down to choice. Sadly, discrimination is something that occurs on a daily basis. We may have been wronged by someone of a certain "gender", or seen them behave a certain way. As a result, it's partly human nature for us to often assume that all people of that culture are the same. And thats a shame.

We can't look at everyone the same, because to do so would both be discriminatory, and a failure to celebrate the differences that make us who we are. One of the funniest things Im asked in life as a twin is whether or not we are identical. Other then wanting to slap the inquirer upside the head(my twin's a female), I wonder what they're REALLY asking. Just because we were birthed at the same time doesnt mean that we have anything in common whatsoever. I celebrate and enjoy the fact that I have a twin sister, but Im thankful for the differences we share. And it's more then just genetics.

What it comes down to is that no matter the race, religion, country of origin, or gender, we are ALL different. From the traits we are born with to the things we are taught to the quirks and traits we develop as we become people, each and every one of us is distinct. We can celebrate one's culture, but in the end, we have to look deeper, and in doing that, we celebrate each person's humanity. The one distinct trait we ALL share.