I’d argue the opposite. Kids aren’t born hating anyone different from them. They are taught “anyone with that skin color/gender/sexuality/religion/etc is inferior to you and you should hate them.”
The big problem is that hatred can be passed down. My father’s racist. Not in a “hang all black people” way, but more in a “I can’t be racist because I have a black friend but black people should act more like white people” way. Growing up, I started taking on his beliefs (as young kids often do).
At one point, I made a very insensitive joke in class about a religion and the kid sitting behind me said that he was in that religion. Now, I don’t know if he was or wasn’t, but it was eye opening to me. I realized what I was doing and didn’t like it. I took the time and effort to root out my prejudices.
It wasn’t easy. Even now, over 30 years later, I’ll occasionally realize that some action I’m taking is driven by prejudice. Still, I’ve rooted out many prejudices that otherwise would have made me into just as big of a bigot as my father. And my kids go even further than my at being accepting of others. One of many reasons I’m proud of them.
Hatred doesn’t come naturally. It is taught. Luckily, it can be “unlearned” if the person is willing to do the work and acceptance can be taught/reinforced also.
Racism is artificial, sure, because race is artificial.
But violence? Violence is the state of nature. You can see it in small children, and in those that are poorly socialized. Cooperation is natural for us, but true eusicial behavior? It’s an ongoing project.
I’d argue the opposite. Kids aren’t born hating anyone different from them. They are taught “anyone with that skin color/gender/sexuality/religion/etc is inferior to you and you should hate them.”
The big problem is that hatred can be passed down. My father’s racist. Not in a “hang all black people” way, but more in a “I can’t be racist because I have a black friend but black people should act more like white people” way. Growing up, I started taking on his beliefs (as young kids often do).
At one point, I made a very insensitive joke in class about a religion and the kid sitting behind me said that he was in that religion. Now, I don’t know if he was or wasn’t, but it was eye opening to me. I realized what I was doing and didn’t like it. I took the time and effort to root out my prejudices.
It wasn’t easy. Even now, over 30 years later, I’ll occasionally realize that some action I’m taking is driven by prejudice. Still, I’ve rooted out many prejudices that otherwise would have made me into just as big of a bigot as my father. And my kids go even further than my at being accepting of others. One of many reasons I’m proud of them.
Hatred doesn’t come naturally. It is taught. Luckily, it can be “unlearned” if the person is willing to do the work and acceptance can be taught/reinforced also.
Racism is artificial, sure, because race is artificial.
But violence? Violence is the state of nature. You can see it in small children, and in those that are poorly socialized. Cooperation is natural for us, but true eusicial behavior? It’s an ongoing project.