So ignorance is a word that is commonly used in our society. A lot of people use it, and I don't think it truly expresses what they mean. Dictionary.com (yes, I use dictionary.com, it's legit) defines "ignorance" as "lack of knowledge, learning, information, etc." Most of the time I hear this when someone makes a stupid comment about some something and they are immediately called ignorant. This word has a lot of negative connotation behind it and usually a lot of anger. This summer I have realized what ignorance actually is, and why my patience level with these people has become greater.
So this summer I've been living in Chicago, which is a crazy diverse area. There are all kinds of cultures and ethnicities. The neighborhood I live in is populated by both Polish people, and Spanish-speaking people. There are times when I would call these people "hispanic" or "latin american", but the truth is, this offends them just as much as calling them Mexican does. When I said this, I had no idea what effect it might have on people. Luckily my supervisor corrected me, and I have tried to be cautious when I say things of that nature. I said hispanic out of ignorance, because I did not know that it was not appropriate. It is not that I am uneducated, racist, hateful, or anything else that gets roped in with the word ignorant.
Through the summer, though, I've had to tell others what I have learned. One person I worked with would call any Spanish-speaking/looking person "Mexican". They were not trying make a racist comment or to stereotype. They simply did not understand that it's not appropriate.
Another great example, is when one of the guys from a mission team came up to help us. We spoke to some girls from Ireland while doing prayer stations. Originally he asked if they were "British", which can be offensive if said to the wrong person. Later on in the conversation he called them Scottish, which is just as offensive. It is not that he was trying to be rude or offensive. He simply did not know.
Ignorance gets the best of all of us. I've grown tired of people using it as an insult. We are all ignorant about a lot of things. Don't think you are better than someone else just because no one has personally called you out on your ignorance.
Well that's my thoughts for the day. I'm going to get off my soap box now, because I don't think soap boxes exist anymore. I'm not sure I feel comfortable standing mid-air. Goodnight, all!
So this summer I've been living in Chicago, which is a crazy diverse area. There are all kinds of cultures and ethnicities. The neighborhood I live in is populated by both Polish people, and Spanish-speaking people. There are times when I would call these people "hispanic" or "latin american", but the truth is, this offends them just as much as calling them Mexican does. When I said this, I had no idea what effect it might have on people. Luckily my supervisor corrected me, and I have tried to be cautious when I say things of that nature. I said hispanic out of ignorance, because I did not know that it was not appropriate. It is not that I am uneducated, racist, hateful, or anything else that gets roped in with the word ignorant.
Through the summer, though, I've had to tell others what I have learned. One person I worked with would call any Spanish-speaking/looking person "Mexican". They were not trying make a racist comment or to stereotype. They simply did not understand that it's not appropriate.
Another great example, is when one of the guys from a mission team came up to help us. We spoke to some girls from Ireland while doing prayer stations. Originally he asked if they were "British", which can be offensive if said to the wrong person. Later on in the conversation he called them Scottish, which is just as offensive. It is not that he was trying to be rude or offensive. He simply did not know.
Ignorance gets the best of all of us. I've grown tired of people using it as an insult. We are all ignorant about a lot of things. Don't think you are better than someone else just because no one has personally called you out on your ignorance.
Well that's my thoughts for the day. I'm going to get off my soap box now, because I don't think soap boxes exist anymore. I'm not sure I feel comfortable standing mid-air. Goodnight, all!
