Accepting differences between persons in cultural, social, physical and environmental ways, among others, will help us to build a more accurate perception of someone by the
time we learn more about others without judging just because sometime we heard something about nationals from one country, ethnic group, etc. that contributes to stereotype others, which is not good at all, is relative.
That's why is important to learn about diversity, just in a way that makes all of us different, not alike identities, shown even on animals and plants, look just the classification of those systems by kingdom and by what they eat (carnivorous, herbivorous...) We can find differences as things exist in this world. But for the same reason, and because each day is easier to share with people of other regions, and countries is important to open our mind and accept others, starting by motivational interest informing about other cultures, minorities, rights, and what still consider discrimination, and then read about how they behave, and at the end give the importance of know them by the experience knowing the differences but appreciating and integrating with them.
When people do not achieve getting to that ideal point, is when racism occur. According to the definition of racism that the UNESCO gives, racism is recognized when some ethnic group is considered as inferior comparing other, and is entitled to be eliminated for that reason. Something that has no scientific foundation and is contrary to the moral and ethical principles of humanity. Exist racism in different types, such as cultural racism, personal racism and institutional racism all based in attacks, exclusion, and inequitable outcomes to minorities.
And at the same time exists some theories that helps to understand diversity from different views, one of them is evaluate some insight into its cultural underpinning, where do those groups belong, how they behave and act according to that; but is very important not to forget that culture is not a stable factor and that people should avoid all cultural judgments that I began talking about, e. g. stereotyping cause we are all surrounded by different influences (individual, family, community, culture, and global influences) that makes each one unique and not a predicable mass full of equal characteristics, as dimensions do.
In which way we can see how discrimination has been decreasing in Colombia?
I specially wanted to focus on the discrimination of gay people, a matter that about 10 years ago was almost considered as a crime the fact to have homosexual tendencies, were persecuted and killed. Murdered just because liked others from the same gender, circumstance that at the same time wasn't as sorprising (cause when people didn't have the same way of thinking the better way to shut someone up was killing, as conservatives an liberals) in a country as Colombia, the same one that in its Constitution of 1991, declared pluralism and protection in order to enjoy the same rights, freedoms and opportunities, without discrimination because of race, sex, nationality, religion, political tendencies, philosophy, language, or group.
This fact wasn't respected as all politicians thought, but now days as Marcela Sánchez, ONG Colombia Diversa's director this fact has turned to a more positive way, starting by the recognition of their rights as a couple, the only thing left to be accepted is the right of getting married and the adoption. There are more gay bars, and are not a mystery anymore, people are accepting them easier with this generation, and "will get better with the next ones", someone interviewed in El Tiempo news says.
Is evident the improvement about accepting gays, but still persons that are not agree with those kind of tendencies, but at least Colombians are more open to change their conservative minds and at the same time offer them more tranquility and respect them as a part of this country too, like normal people with other likes, as vegetarians don't like meat.
time we learn more about others without judging just because sometime we heard something about nationals from one country, ethnic group, etc. that contributes to stereotype others, which is not good at all, is relative.
That's why is important to learn about diversity, just in a way that makes all of us different, not alike identities, shown even on animals and plants, look just the classification of those systems by kingdom and by what they eat (carnivorous, herbivorous...) We can find differences as things exist in this world. But for the same reason, and because each day is easier to share with people of other regions, and countries is important to open our mind and accept others, starting by motivational interest informing about other cultures, minorities, rights, and what still consider discrimination, and then read about how they behave, and at the end give the importance of know them by the experience knowing the differences but appreciating and integrating with them.
When people do not achieve getting to that ideal point, is when racism occur. According to the definition of racism that the UNESCO gives, racism is recognized when some ethnic group is considered as inferior comparing other, and is entitled to be eliminated for that reason. Something that has no scientific foundation and is contrary to the moral and ethical principles of humanity. Exist racism in different types, such as cultural racism, personal racism and institutional racism all based in attacks, exclusion, and inequitable outcomes to minorities.
And at the same time exists some theories that helps to understand diversity from different views, one of them is evaluate some insight into its cultural underpinning, where do those groups belong, how they behave and act according to that; but is very important not to forget that culture is not a stable factor and that people should avoid all cultural judgments that I began talking about, e. g. stereotyping cause we are all surrounded by different influences (individual, family, community, culture, and global influences) that makes each one unique and not a predicable mass full of equal characteristics, as dimensions do.
In which way we can see how discrimination has been decreasing in Colombia?
I specially wanted to focus on the discrimination of gay people, a matter that about 10 years ago was almost considered as a crime the fact to have homosexual tendencies, were persecuted and killed. Murdered just because liked others from the same gender, circumstance that at the same time wasn't as sorprising (cause when people didn't have the same way of thinking the better way to shut someone up was killing, as conservatives an liberals) in a country as Colombia, the same one that in its Constitution of 1991, declared pluralism and protection in order to enjoy the same rights, freedoms and opportunities, without discrimination because of race, sex, nationality, religion, political tendencies, philosophy, language, or group.
This fact wasn't respected as all politicians thought, but now days as Marcela Sánchez, ONG Colombia Diversa's director this fact has turned to a more positive way, starting by the recognition of their rights as a couple, the only thing left to be accepted is the right of getting married and the adoption. There are more gay bars, and are not a mystery anymore, people are accepting them easier with this generation, and "will get better with the next ones", someone interviewed in El Tiempo news says.
Is evident the improvement about accepting gays, but still persons that are not agree with those kind of tendencies, but at least Colombians are more open to change their conservative minds and at the same time offer them more tranquility and respect them as a part of this country too, like normal people with other likes, as vegetarians don't like meat.
Bibliography
- All different, all equal. Diversity-Human Rights-Participation. 2006. http://alldifferent-allequal.info/files/diversity-732741.gif.jpg. Accessed on February, 2009.
- Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Poetry Ireland Competition. 2007. http://www.equalityni.org/sections/default.asp?cms=News_Campaigns+Archive_Intercultural%2FAR+Week+2007_Poetry+Competition+Background&cmsid=1_109_41_57&id=57&secid=1. Accessed on February, 2009
- Periódico El Tiempo. Gays y lesbianas de esta generación enfrentan su sexualidad de una manera más abierta y temprana. 2009. http://www.eltiempo.com/domingoadomingo_eltiempo/ARTICULO-PRINTER_FRIENDLY-PLANTILLA_PRINTER_FRIENDL-4831442.html. Accessed on february 2009.
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