Fear and rejection of what is different

Fear and rejection of what is different

            Have you ever seen someone do something that not even in your wildest dreams you could have thought of doing? If so, what was your reaction? Many people around the world experience these kinds of situations and often feel offended or disgusted by them. Some people even react violently to something they don’t like. That is why fear of and rejection of what is different is a major element preventing peace. By secluding themselves, people stay away from one of the main paths to peace which is dialogue and understanding. That is why we need to open ourselves to new experiences and different opinions.

            One may reject something so little as food or something bigger such as a city or country.  For example, North Korea and South Korea were in a constant fight that kept on going because of their different ideals, communism and democracy respectively. They rejected each other’s ideals in extreme ways, but when they decided to sit down and talk, they were able to reach an agreement in which they ended their fighting, not the war, but at least many lives were saved.

            If by trying to reach an agreement these countries ended their fighting, then maybe someday they will end their war.

            Besides rejecting actions and ideals, people also reject preferences. Sexual orientation is a constant factor of conflict around the world. For different reasons, like religion or ignorance, people reject and fear other people who have a “different” sexual orientation from the one that is “normal” (man-woman, woman-man). Such rejection has grown to such an extent that gay, lesbian, bi and transgendered people have started to commit suicide from the extreme feelings of guilt, shame, sadness, despair and depression that came from these rejections.

            Google Chrome launched a commercial for the campaign “It Gets Better” to let people with a “different” sexual orientation know that even if you face rejection and bullying for who you are, there’s still hope. Not the whole world thinks alike and there are people who accepts and tries to understand everybody no matter who they are.

            It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, there will always be people, actions or ideologies that may clash with your own values, ideas, and persona. But when we face these kind of situations, we must not close ourselves; instead, we must try to understand and respect whatever differences we face. Because, right now you may be rejecting something but someday you could be the rejected one.