Villainous Times: Driving a Stigma

Three drives of a stigma,

     There are three main areas of society and human psychology which drive a Stigma. They are Generalizing people into categories; Comparison between two different entities, either human or broad spectrum, such as a culture or society as a whole, and the third is our very own human experience being brought into an interaction without our awareness of it.

     For instance, when you first see someone on the street, lets say a young African American man handing out news papers early in the morning by the bus stop outside the subway station; or perhaps a homeless man whose sitting on the corner beside him. Do you treat each of them uniquely? Are you aware of the preconceptions within you that have been formed by: The media, News broadcasts, Past experiences and the society you dwell in?

     If you are aware of these, you may be able to treat the people you meet every day as unique. This takes time to come to it's full magnitude within someone. For there are many key factors:

     Do you harbour resentment and carry it with you... Possibly wherever you go from your past? This will empower comparison if you let it and allow you to brush off the uniqueness of humanity via generalizations or categorization as to avoid... An interaction?

     We are so full of trauma, fear and misunderstanding of ourselves and the people who are around us that we hide ourselves. Just watch others when you are out in public. Hiding in a book or magazine, headphones or text messaging.

     I will admit this, to be aware in each moment, from not being aware much at all is a lot to take in for the psyche, it almost hurts at times. Even I must 'hide' in my music at times, though I am fully aware of the words spoken, the sound and the way it makes my body sway, even in public. I would run home from work, when hope was still strong, with my music blaring in the streets of down town Toronto. Aware of the road, of the eyes upon me, but it didn't matter, I had a place to go and a reason to be there.

     There are other factors as well in the background, though they can be massive as well, like resentment which builds hatred and prejudice. Gossip is another key element in the spreading and control of stigmas and categorizing.

     So I'll leave you with some questions for next time: Do you generalize? If you do, where does it stem from? The media, or possibly family(how you were raised) or is it from a hidden resentment from the past.

Do you believe we are all equal? That every life is worth... A unique experience each and every day?

Do you generalize the opposite sex or people with a different sexual orientation than yourself?

Are you conformed to society or do you conform it around you by the way you live each moment?

     Do you care about the earth, the animals and possibly another human being, now or sometime in the past or future to come? If you do, then the change starts within you, nothing can happen unless we change ourselves, one small step and one small day at a time.

     Lastly, there is no method to the madness of living a Moral life, or an aware life. Sure there are 'don't do this or that' But when you are in the moment, there is nothing that tells you "Juton, tell her this it will save your relationship" after hearing of certain things. Everything like everyone, is a worthy life in progress.

     I accept that have magnified harm upon others in the past, that I am a villain, that conformed my life to the silence which empowered equality's death. But tomorrow, like today and every breath, is a moment for a new encounter! With a pen, or keyboard or the human sitting behind you as you read this. Or maybe they're on the way home, give em something unique, give em who you are! Inspire one another and love will be...

In earnest anticipation of,