VOF, didn't see it as a defence, just remembered this interesting article from some years back. Suspicion of others is hardwired into us, so it's a natural reaction.
I can't condone someone for a natural reaction, but you can judge on what level of effort they go to mitigate that natural reaction.
Before I married my wife, her mum hated the idea of me marrying her as I am Jewish and she is old aristocratic German lady. I didn't hold that against her as she was a product of society from her time and once she met me she could not have been more welcoming as she ensured her old environmental prejudices did not come into play.
Tommy, no worries, welcome back.
It's a really good article Jonty - read it over lunchtime. Provokes some thought for sure.
I'm first to admit I grew up in a family and society full of prejudices, many of which I carried into adult life - even into the military life I went into. But I like to think I've wised up and chilled a lot. Life's too short and full of things to really worry about (i.e. Boris!!) to carry baggage and negative perceptions about other people in life.
I remember standing on the streets off Belfast in 85, British Uniform, stood in a Catholic area by a gate leading into a garden, a young lad stood at the other side of the fence, wasn't to friendly towards me, but, as seen as it was a Peace March and I was stuck on the I don't know, in some eyes the wrong side, and the other eyes I shouldn't have even been there!..
Stood there for a couple off hours and for some reason me and this lad who'd been giving me hell got talking about Football, of coarse he had to have Celtic drummed into him somewhere along the line, and me being Leeds it was a bit off a laugh!..
Question I've never forgotten, this from a 14/15 year old kid!..
Would you kill someone?..
I asked him would his so called hero's kill me, he replied yes!..
I said well there's your answer!..
This sort off thing isn't only colour, it's also the upbringing, most has to do with family and people around you, like you said Jonty, your wife's mother, but I know there are a lot in Britain that are the same as my wife's first husband, his parents were very anti German!..
The kids need educating, but to do it the parents need to lose that angry upbringing they were taught and learn there is more to life!..
Lunatics running the asylum
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posted on 17/12/19
VOF, didn't see it as a defence, just remembered this interesting article from some years back. Suspicion of others is hardwired into us, so it's a natural reaction.
I can't condone someone for a natural reaction, but you can judge on what level of effort they go to mitigate that natural reaction.
Before I married my wife, her mum hated the idea of me marrying her as I am Jewish and she is old aristocratic German lady. I didn't hold that against her as she was a product of society from her time and once she met me she could not have been more welcoming as she ensured her old environmental prejudices did not come into play.
Tommy, no worries, welcome back.
posted on 17/12/19
It's a really good article Jonty - read it over lunchtime. Provokes some thought for sure.
I'm first to admit I grew up in a family and society full of prejudices, many of which I carried into adult life - even into the military life I went into. But I like to think I've wised up and chilled a lot. Life's too short and full of things to really worry about (i.e. Boris!!) to carry baggage and negative perceptions about other people in life.
posted on 17/12/19
I remember standing on the streets off Belfast in 85, British Uniform, stood in a Catholic area by a gate leading into a garden, a young lad stood at the other side of the fence, wasn't to friendly towards me, but, as seen as it was a Peace March and I was stuck on the I don't know, in some eyes the wrong side, and the other eyes I shouldn't have even been there!..
Stood there for a couple off hours and for some reason me and this lad who'd been giving me hell got talking about Football, of coarse he had to have Celtic drummed into him somewhere along the line, and me being Leeds it was a bit off a laugh!..
Question I've never forgotten, this from a 14/15 year old kid!..
Would you kill someone?..
I asked him would his so called hero's kill me, he replied yes!..
I said well there's your answer!..
This sort off thing isn't only colour, it's also the upbringing, most has to do with family and people around you, like you said Jonty, your wife's mother, but I know there are a lot in Britain that are the same as my wife's first husband, his parents were very anti German!..
The kids need educating, but to do it the parents need to lose that angry upbringing they were taught and learn there is more to life!..
Page 2 of 2