Basic HTML Version
3 I The Best Online Education System in the world
THE IMPORTANCE OF SLAYING PREJUDICE
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
Prejudice is easily the child of ignorance. When we make judgments not based on fact and real knowledge, we
are afflicted with prejudice. Saying something like, “Oh, she’s from this or that country. She must be lazy and
have backward values, “ or, “This place teems with criminals, “ even when we are unfamiliar with the individual
or the place smacks of ignorance, which gives birth to the prejudices that we have. Unless we get immersed in
the real values of a place or become acquainted with those of an individual, we are never qualified enough to
pass judgment over that area or person. Places have hidden beauty just as people have unrevealed goodness in
them. Just because a person hails from a particular place does not mean they are the image of that place. In
the same manner, just because an area is known for harboring notorious criminals doesn’t mean all people in
that area are criminals. We are known by the company we keep, but who’s to tell whether the company we
keep has also influenced our character?
Many years ago, I became aware of the ongoing prejudice there was for citizens of my country. Female Filipinos
were once perceived to be domestic helpers; our nation was a nation of domestic servants that scrubbed the
toilets of houses in rich nations and served as nannies to those nations’ children. Fortunately, the export of
manpower that my country has been doing has become greatly diversified. Professionals from my country who
are nurses, information technology experts, musicians, artists, sports figures, and many others continue to
make their mark in the world. Foreigners have been amazed by the speaking ability and skills of people from
my country. Pretty soon, the word Filipino has ceased to be associated with a doggy bag for the maid or mail-
to-order brides for aging foreigners. Many foreign people have proven that we learn skills quickly and work
hard to get the job done. We are not just a nation of happy-go-lucky individuals who don’t care at all for come-
what-may. We can set our minds to the job at hand and often come up better than expected.
The journey to liberate ourselves from prejudice has been long and arduous. Yet many have proven that it can
be done. Many have shown that determination comes naturally to those who need to prove themselves in the
worldwide arena. Many have demonstrated that they have what it takes to perform as well as their neighbors
on the planet. Prejudice is difficult to put down, much less remove from memory. But it can be done with the
proper attitude and will. Now all that needs to be done is convincing our detractors to see us differently.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1.
Define prejudice. Determine why it is the child of ignorance.
2.
Have you ever been a victim of prejudice? Be able to talk about the incident in class.
3.
What are the dangers of prejudice?
4.
Should we allow prejudice to prevail? How can it be eradicated?
5.
Who, in your opinion, is more severely affected by prejudice, the one who holds the prejudice or the one
who the prejudice is against? Elaborate on your answer.