Essay

                                                     Discrimination Lives Within Everyone
           
              How far is the truth of this statement? As a matter of fact, it is very true. No matter how much one tries to deny harbouring prejudices towards another, he or she is ultimately guilty of committing the act of this misdeed. One differs from another in terms of the level of being straightforward and blatant in showing discrimination towards a certain someone or group of people. As for the general masses who wants no part in committing crimes or unlawful acts driven by over-zealous discrimination, they might be unconscious of thoughts of bigotry and partiality that rises in their minds every now and then after coming across a particular group whom they perceive of with narrow-mindedness. Even so, they have not the slightest intention of creating strife against them as those negative perceptions are solely brewed by societal influences garnered and drilled in since young.

               Not many people know the scale of the issue of discrimination happening all over the world. I attest to it because it was only after I watched the movie called The Freedom Writers have I realised the truth about discrimination in human relationships much farther and wider than what I knew, enclosing racial issues, different classes of people and cultural division. Discrimination is in fact a prejudicial trait of mankind that has contributed in many wars, strife and suppression of the people for many centuries. It is the natural reaction of man towards some one that is simply different from themselves be it in colour, race, beliefs and behaviour. It is also motivated by age old stereotyping in the society most commonly on the grounds of age, sex, qualifications and wealth. Discrimination is one of the very core reason why war still happens in certain parts of the world and is among man's detrimental weakness.

              Although in this present era where world peace becomes the ultimate foundation upheld and heavy conflicts and discord greatly reduced, discrimination is still alive, discreetly affecting people some way or another. Much hype about it has ceased as the current generation are living in a much better world making them unaware and unexposed to the plight of the remaining groups of people who are still hoping to see light in their lives. Those are they who are still facing brutal and unsparring discrimination. They question, "Where is justice?", "Do we have no rights?". The inequity people are facing now is largely due to racism or at least that is what it says in The Freedom Writers. People are discriminated and marginalized for their colour and that prods them to stick to their own, their clan. They are anchored to the responsibility of protecting their own and trusting no one but themselves. The result of it is staggering. It has been deeply ingrained in them that the world is a dangerous place, living every day means surviving a day in war- assaults and gang fights. They have this idea that everybody is against them because they know how much they are looked down upon, how much they are not wanted. Subsequently, they lose all hope in this world and take upon their 'fate' and just live. That is the adverse consequence we bring to them when we discriminate.

               Discrimination also takes the form less heinous than racism but still underscores being biased that unsurprisingly lurks in many of us. In this case, age, sex, qualifications and such are referred to. Most of the time this form of discrimination is not to hurt another rather it is a matter of preference based on ideas accustomed to the society. For example, companies often turn a blind eye on the older applicants for a job as they deem them unable to cope with tough and long hours of work but instead welcome fresh graduates who can give the company a breath of fresh air. Discrimination towards female workers that are thought to only belong in the kitchen are fast diminishing as more influence and power are bestowed to them in economical and political sectors. The automatic negative perspective towards dependent old folks and the handicapped can be overturned by having genuine understanding and compassion. Thus, we should not discriminate if they are given extra attention and care, alternately we must respect and treat them equally.

              In conclusion, every one should try to relinquish discrimination since it lives within everyone. We have to keep in mind that every one of us is the same beyond our skin, language, nationality and religion. Every time a thought of discrimination arouses, we should remind ourselves that we too are not perfect, not better than others, so, why judge? Renounce arguments and discord, instill respect for others and by this principle this world can be a better place.