on prejudice

We are all prejudiced in one way or another, and no matter how open-minded we consider ourselves there is always a little corner of our minds that conceals a well hidden preconception. The important thing is to make an effort to identify those judgments that we made based on a preconception rather than a fact and hold them back.

I am writing this because of a short new piece I read today. Apparently a couple of people have been told off by employees of Southwest Airlines Co. because they were not appropriately dress for a flight. I am not writing because of this. I do not know the circumstances and the airline employees may have been justified in their actions (personally, I doubt it, but then again...). I am writing about a comment made by one Lynda White, who teaches etiquette classes (somewhere) and who has been quoted by CNNMoney.com saying that one should dress conservatively in an airplane because you maybe sitting close to a prospective employer and:

"If you wear provocative clothing, tattoos, or you smell of alcohol or cigarettes, who's going to believe you?"

Right. So the tattoo on my right shoulder makes me incompetent? Some of the best physicist I know are heavy smokers. Does that make them unfit to do their work? I think not.

Consider what this lady is saying. Would you actually want to work for somebody that only gives you a job based on your appearance? Please. Look a bit further. Scratch a bit deeper.

This formalism, this lack of respect for attitudes and cultures different from your own, this focus on the superficial is what leads us to fight each other all over the world. From brother to neighbors to nations. You don't dress like me, you are beneath me. Your don't follow my religion, you are evil. These generalizations, these judgments based on preconceptions, are fundamentally wrong.

Be tolerant. Open your mind. You will be amazed at the wonderful people you meet and the new joys you find in life.

Mr. C