Reflection
Prejudice is usually born of ignorance. We hold preconceived notions that we have not tested through personal experience. Prejudice is often rooted in an unfounded sense of superiority. Sadly, prejudice is often found in people who defend their attitudes based on religious or political beliefs. Examine closely certain code words, epithets and slogans and you will find them rooted in prejudice. We are not born hating or despising people different from ourselves. Unfortunately, it is an acquired pattern.
Prayer
Help me, O God, not to foster prejudices in myself or others.
Action
Before making sweeping judgments about others examine honestly the underlying reasons you feel this way. Do not participate in petty and immature name calling.
Suggested Reading
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
“We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
But Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jn 1:45-51
How often are our judgments really prejudices, pre-judgments? How often do we rest content with labels? In this way, we disfigure by our words the beauty of the children of God, who are our brothers and sisters.
Pope Francis
If you judge people you have no time to love them.
Mother Teresa
Preconceived notions are the locks on the door to wisdom.
Merry Browne
Judgments prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances.
Wayne W. Dyer
O Lord, help me not to despise or oppose what I do not understand.
William Penn
The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Bigotry or prejudice in any form is more than a problem; it is a deep-seated evil within our society.
Judith Light
At any given moment, public opinion is a chaos of superstition, misinformation and prejudice.
Gore Vidal
Prejudices are the chains forged by ignorance to keep us apart.
Countess of Blessington