Xenophobia

     While you may feel that your own country, ethnic group, culture, lifestyle, and religion are the best, be careful that you don't overdo it and become xenophobic.  A strong dislike of anyone or anything different from yourself can lead to stereotyping which can lead to prejudice, discrimination, and intolerance.
     Anytime we begin to feel superior, we give ourselves reasons to feel others are inferior.  The more foreign or strange something is to us, the more we may develop hatred and fear.  This is xenophobia.
     Many of us have lived most of our lives in predominately white neighborhoods and have had very little personal contact with blacks.  We assume most of them live in poverty and are on welfare.  We see them on the news murdering each other.  We feel safer with our own kind.
     Many of us have never personally known a homosexual.  We feel it is strange being attracted to the same sex.  Some people even consider it sinful and that same sex marriage somehow weakens the institution of marriage.
     Many of us have never known an Arab or Muslim.  They seem so foreign in what they believe and how they dress.  We see all the worldwide unrest on TV.  We fear that some may be terrorists.
     Many of us suspect new immigrants are illegal.  Some of us don't like hearing them converse in their native tongue and feel they should quickly learn English.  Some fear they may take away jobs from citizens.
     Many Christians feel that other religions, agnostics, and atheists are not right with God.  They may influence our society and politicians to go in the wrong direction.
     The world is made up of many different kinds of people.  Some may seem strange and foreign to us, but this is no reason for hate or fear.  Don't become xenophobic.