So I'm a bigot...how can I help?

[Cube Inmate]

The combination of Trump's insanity and the Quebec City shooting is pushing me over the edge. I'm just not ready to have my kids grow up in a world where this kind of #### is "normal," but I'm feeling pretty helpless to change anything. And part of the problem is that... I'm part of the problem!

After every Islamic terror attack, the "white" world asks
"Why don't you do something to address the extremists in your community?"
"Where are all the moderate Muslims?"

So now I'M part of the problem (and I really always have been). People like me (but not me) voted for an incompetent demagogue who's now going beyond any semblance of civilized behaviour. A person like me (still, not me) got into a few too many echo chambers and got so mad he murdered innocent people on Sunday. Those are far from the only problems...we have so many despicable (or is it deplorable?) people among us that these recent events are only the tip of the iceberg. Homosexuals burning in lakes of fire! Women getting the back of their husbands' hands (in Russia). Etc.....

And the scary thing is, I've had the kind of "us vs. them" thoughts that are leading to all of this. There, but for the grace of ... luck ... go I. I mean, I think all religion is stupid, but...you know...Islam is *more* stupid because those people waste time praying five times a day and refuse to eat yummy bacon. I think sexism is offensive! Those bikini models are obviously relishing women's liberation but those women in hijabs are being oppressed. I'm pretty certain that sexuality and gender is biologically determined...but do you have to be so over-the-top with that lisp?? Of course immigration is necessary...but can't you figure out that we don't yell at each other over here in everyday conversation (get away from my cube!)?

So look...

I've got biases and ingrained prejudice like a lot of us do. I try to get over those things though, and be open-minded. But that's not enough. I'm the "moderate westerner" who never hurts anybody but also never does anything to stop the creeping extremism within my own kind. So what can I do? What can we all do? How can we take this ridiculous confluence of events (mostly Trump) and turn it into something positive that actually starts to rip apart some of that bigotry? This question has been eating at me all day and I don't see anyone talking about solutions; only problems.

[dsavillian]

I don't know the answer, but trying seems like a good first step.

Good on you. Be the change you want to see in the world.

[calgarywinning]

Jan 31, 2017... Just end hate. We all came here on different ships, but now we are all in the same boat.(MLK). And Snap... one day the lights go out. You really only have control over yourself and the positivity you put back out into the universe, whether that is your family, friends, or colleagues.

Your positive output is more important than the negativity, bias that you internalize. Also, how much of Trump do you effect. What does it really have to do with your daily life or mine?

[Cube Inmate]

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

Also, how much of Trump do you effect. What does it really have to do with your daily life or mine?

The problem is I affect no one at all. On the other hand, political leaders are effecting the normalization of extremism. People like me (but not me) will be ever more emboldened to "come out" and say "maybe I'm not wrong after all!"

[calgaryblood]

I've tried reading the OP 5 times and I still don't know what's going on here.

[Snuffleupagus]

bigotry won't stand a chance when religions stop being rivals of each other. this of course will never happen as long as countries still have religion as part of their laws and constitution.

[AltaGuy]

I know where you're coming from, OP. I'm feeling the (white) angst as well. But then I asked an aboriginal friend what type of advice white people often give to his community.

"The elders need to stand up for what's right. Be less corrupt. Be smart with the free money."

So I felt a lot better. I'm not even an elder yet. I have some grey hairs coming into my beard that suggest I'm getting there, but until then, I just have to be smart with my free money and try not to be too corrupt.

I believe if you follow that advice, Trump will be less bad.

[Fuzz]

A good start is to not show a hint of support to people who have bigoted views. People look past Trumps bigoted ways for whatever individual ideal he has they support. People vote politicians because they like their fiscal side and can ignore their bigoted social side. They support their church or religion because most of what they do is good to them, even if the religion has a few despicable views. Celebrities who beat their wives, but hey they make good music, so you look past it.

So make a stand. Stop offering a shred of support for any of these people/institutions, despite whatever good they offer. There are always alternatives. It may not seem like much, but it is a start, takes almost no effort, and if enough people do it, it will make a difference.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Education is the obvious answer. Mandatory public schooling with full integration is also extremely important. When you can see the source of your fear, and find there is nothing to fear, a lot of that hated and bigotry disappears.

[driveway]

Read and listen. Read what minorities are writing and listen to what they're saying.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Wait... people are taking this seriously? Is this not supposed to be satire?

[zarrell]

Originally Posted by New Era

Education is the obvious answer. Mandatory public schooling with full integration is also extremely important. When you can see the source of your fear, and find there is nothing to fear, a lot of that hated and bigotry disappears.

Yikes! I thought we tried that once not too long ago. Didn't work too well.

[burn_this_city]

People are people, don't fall for identity politics or group think where someone is pushing an us vs. them narrative. The differences between individuals are far greater than the differences between groups.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by zarrell

Yikes! I thought we tried that once not too long ago. Didn't work too well.

Didn't work? In what way? If it is a failure it's because the bigots created their own system and subverted the efforts to integrate.

[Jason14h]

When people start discussing and debating, openly, why these things happen and the thought process on both sides of the fence, without fear of being called a bigot or racist again.

This type of discussion used to happen in institutions like universities. Now we ban certain topics from discussion and call anyone who wants to discuss a differing viewpoint a name!

[Northendzone]

I like "live and let live", so my neighbor worships to a different god, or goes to a house of worship on a different day than me - it has no impact to me nad if he has a great recipie for tandoori chicken or something else, I hope he offers me some to sample.

I am more interested in seeing him maintain his house and cut his grass on a timely basis.

I can accept that our differences make the world a more interesting place. my heart feels heavy when any house of worship is attacked by an extremist.

I will also note that I laugh when I hear a joke about people from different backgrounds, but I don't believe it is anything more than a joke

I try and pass those beliefs on to my kids, but one day my kids will form their own beliefs

[Cube Inmate]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Wait... people are taking this seriously? Is this not supposed to be satire?

Nope. I may be a joke to you, but it's not satire. Thanks for your contribution.

[Sliver]

...

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

Nope. I may be a joke to you, but it's not satire. Thanks for your contribution.

Who called you a joke? I assumed it was in reference to Quebec and that you were mocking the tendency after every mass shooting by a jihadist to implicate all Muslims everywhere and act as if they have to collectively atone, as if everyone who goes to mosque is somehow personally responsible for it.

And you're not a bigot. ####, dude. That post makes you sound like a self-flagellating medieval monk. "I am a sinner! I have impure thoughts! I must atone!" Great, you want to better yourself, but there's nothing blasphemous about your intuitions. You don't need to feel some sense of profound shame. Just talk about stuff with other people and change your mind about your views if you find they turn out to be wrong.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by New Era

Didn't work? In what way? If it is a failure it's because the bigots created their own system and subverted the efforts to integrate.

It was an off-colour residential schools joke.