We live in a rather muddled society – at least in the United States. We confuse needs and wants, blue and red (states at least) but mostly we confuse truths, laws and statistics. No where is this more evident than in stereotypes.
Just so we are all on the same page, let me give you my definitions for truths, laws and statistics. Well, they are not really definitions as much as they are stereotypes but…
Truths are those things that happen to everyone regardless of who you are or where you are. So while we refer to the Law of Gravity, it’s really a truth. If you walk off the edge of a cliff, gravity will prevail. If I walk off the edge of a cliff, gravity will prevail. If ANY of God’s creatures walk off the edge of a cliff, gravity will prevail. Truths are neutral, timeless, constant, and do not respect position, power or money. Clearly, they are Rules with a capital “R”.
Laws on the other hand masquerade as rules but they are really policies – which as we all know often have exceptions. There are often consequences for not following laws but not always. Truths always have consequences. Laws have consequences if someone catches you and enforces the law. So if you speed, you could get stopped and you could get a ticket that will cost you money. If I speed, I could get stopped and I could get a ticket that will cost me money. BUT one or both of us might speed merrily along (or grumpily for that matter), not get stopped and/or not get a ticket that will cost us money. It is also possible, that if I have enough position, power or money, that the laws might not actually “apply” to me.
Statistics help us understand past history about truths and laws, and make some projection about the future. So we can figure out that 72% of all drivers in Wyoming exceed the speed limit with 24.6% of those actually being stopped and receiving a ticket, while 100% of all drivers in Wyoming who drive over a cliff will fall under the Law of Gravity. Literally.
Nowhere is the difference between truths, laws, and statistics more blatant than with stereotypes. Now stereotypes exist because someone – usually a group of someones – decide that humans can establish a truth. So we make generalizations about people, animals, the weather in a particular place, pretty much anything about which we really don’t have personal knowledge. These generalizations or stereotypes are presented as a truth.
Occasionally, we go so far as to create laws to control stereotyped groups because of these “truths”, witness the segregation laws or the laws prohibiting women from voting because they were too emotional. That one really makes me angry – I could just cry. Just as with any other laws, these are not uniformly applied and there is the “if you get caught” factor involved. Rarely do these types of laws have anything to do with the safety of society. These are truly me vs. “them”.
Statistics play an interesting role in stereotypes. We can measure how many members of a particular section of society, say Washington, D.C., are male/female, of a particular ethnic or racial background, etc. We then can measure how many of those falling into that group are in prison or have been discriminated against or have a college education or any of a variety of other tags. Statistics are then used to try and achieve some sort of parity or reparation or equal access – as if that were going to change culture or biases. They are also often used to manipulate public opinion – both negatively and positively for a particular stereotyped group.
Oddly enough, members of a stereotyped group often are far worse about bashing those in a different stereotyped group than just your average everyday Joe. I’m puzzled by this. If you, as a member of a stereotyped group KNOW that the supposed truth about you is false, that the laws designed to control you are discriminatory, that the statistics that are used to either support you or denigrate you are often rigged, then how on earth can you justify your bashing of someone else?
Puzzling. What ever happened to the Golden Rule? What ever happened to “I have a dream“? That dream was for all together – not for just one particular group. Whatever happened to the ability to work together for the good of your country avoiding partisanship behavior? I think Senator Evan Bayh has it right. Unfortunately.
So for all those who believe it’s ok to push an agenda, scream discrimination or some sort of “-ism” but turn around and bash those of other political parties or religions or skin color, remember. You do not establish truth. You might get some laws passed. The statistics could support your position or not. And you could do more damage for your own stereotyped group’s cause than you can imagine simply because you refuse to extend to others what you want for yourself. Tsk, tsk.
Just Sayin' 