Bias and the American Victim Mentality
I was thinking as I was driving home today about how often we call “bias” upon people we disagree with and what causes us to do that. I was also thinking about how often we make a big deal of bias against us, but rarely notice the biases we commit…especially in the cases where we jump to the conclusion that someone is going to be biased against us…so we LOOK for it.
I realized that when I watch television or movies, I look for the politically biased perspective now to see if I notice it. If I disagree with the bias presented (as I see it), I am annoyed and don’t want to watch the show anymore. Then I noticed that when a group, whether it is a matter of race or religion or sexual proclivities or political belief, thinks that they have been ‘discriminated against’ by some group they develop a bias of their own against said group, looking for any opportunity to point it out.
Sometimes we perceive bias where none is present, it is merely disagreement over an opinion. Then the fault lies within ourselves and we need the correction. Sometimes we become paranoid and start seeing things that aren’t there. During those times we should check to find out what someone meant before making an assumption of the worst. Sometimes we see things that ARE there, but were put there in ignorance. During those times we should also ask if the person understood what they did. Sometimes we see things that ARE there and were put there deliberately, but when we explain our position and why it hurt us, the person or people who hurt us repent. Sometimes we see things that ARE there and were put there deliberately, but when we explain our position and why it hurt us, the people who hurt us don’t care. Only the last ones need a stronger and perhaps slightly more painful correction.
As Christians I am aware of the idea that we are supposed to experience trials, but I think that we also tend to create our own trials when we spend all of our time focused upon the biases we experience, especially when everyone has experienced some sort of bias from somewhere. We can compare the biases we experience to one another and say, “The bias I experience is worse than yours because….” or instead of comparing ourselves to one another, we can compare ourselves to Christ and recognize that any bias committed against us was committed against Him first and I am only receiving a shadow of what he did.
2 Corinthians 10:12
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
Galatians 6:3-5
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.
Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Amen.
I realized that when I watch television or movies, I look for the politically biased perspective now to see if I notice it. If I disagree with the bias presented (as I see it), I am annoyed and don’t want to watch the show anymore. Then I noticed that when a group, whether it is a matter of race or religion or sexual proclivities or political belief, thinks that they have been ‘discriminated against’ by some group they develop a bias of their own against said group, looking for any opportunity to point it out.
Sometimes we perceive bias where none is present, it is merely disagreement over an opinion. Then the fault lies within ourselves and we need the correction. Sometimes we become paranoid and start seeing things that aren’t there. During those times we should check to find out what someone meant before making an assumption of the worst. Sometimes we see things that ARE there, but were put there in ignorance. During those times we should also ask if the person understood what they did. Sometimes we see things that ARE there and were put there deliberately, but when we explain our position and why it hurt us, the person or people who hurt us repent. Sometimes we see things that ARE there and were put there deliberately, but when we explain our position and why it hurt us, the people who hurt us don’t care. Only the last ones need a stronger and perhaps slightly more painful correction.
As Christians I am aware of the idea that we are supposed to experience trials, but I think that we also tend to create our own trials when we spend all of our time focused upon the biases we experience, especially when everyone has experienced some sort of bias from somewhere. We can compare the biases we experience to one another and say, “The bias I experience is worse than yours because….” or instead of comparing ourselves to one another, we can compare ourselves to Christ and recognize that any bias committed against us was committed against Him first and I am only receiving a shadow of what he did.
2 Corinthians 10:12
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
Galatians 6:3-5
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.
Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Amen.
posted by Dancer | 6:31 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home