{"id":27928,"date":"2020-02-01T11:25:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-01T16:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=27928"},"modified":"2020-02-03T11:28:41","modified_gmt":"2020-02-03T16:28:41","slug":"my-voice-why-do-we-reject-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/opinion\/2020\/02\/01\/my-voice-why-do-we-reject-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"My Voice: Why Do We Reject Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I was twelve years old I started attending the Dayton Regional STEM School<\/a>, a school known for embracing difference. During my enrollment, I quickly found that STEM students pride themselves on what makes them stand out; individuality and kindness were vital parts of the atmosphere I was in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, I became passionate about incorporating these values into everyday life and abiding by them as much as possible. Although I am forever grateful for how my experience helped shape me into the person I am today, it evoked some challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I moved schools a few years later, I found that not all people had the same mindset about acceptance that I did. I couldn\u2019t fully wrap my head around this. Situations that I responded to with an open mind were shown no mercy at the hands of my new classmates. I knew they hadn\u2019t been in the same environment I had, but I could never really get over what made them so hateful towards others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I\u2019m not saying that I\u2019m perfect. I\u2019ve definitely had my share of bad moments. But it makes me wonder\u2026 are we, as humans, inevitably hateful? Is it in our nature to be so disapproving? I want to believe that\u2019s not the case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what is it that causes us to be close-minded? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lack of self-worth is a possibility. Unfortunately, we live in a perfection-driven society where we are often told we\u2019re not good enough. Sometimes, we deem the hurtful words others say to be true and it\u2019s difficult to accept. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We don\u2019t always know how to respond to feelings of worthlessness, so we project them onto others. We tend to transform hate, or disappointment in ourselves into hate for those around us. Lack of self-worth is all-consuming, so we exercise these emotions in hurtful ways, whether it be by bullying others or initiating fights with loved ones. Hate is an energizing emotion, and we don\u2019t always realize the extent to which it can change us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A painting displaying the many flags of the world’s countries. (Flickr\/R. Miller)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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