Yates, David. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (2011)
Often described as racial hygiene, the concept of racial purity deals with forbidding the blood lines from one race, ethnic group, or culture to reproduce children with any other. A sort of 'perverse quality control' on the production of human life invented by conservative idealists and propagated by blind irrationalism or willful ignorance.
I was first introduced to the word "miscegenation" during my senior year in high school while reading Faulkner. It refers to the mixing of races. I read through the novel with the fervor of a student expecting to graduate from an all boys preparatory school and attend a co-ed university in less than a yr. I comprehended the bare minimum.
Being the son of immigrant parents, I didn't realize the gravity of racial sexual selection until it was time to marry and settle down. Growing up in a country touted as a 'melting pot' of diverse cultural constituents founded upon the principles of fairness, equality, religious freedom, and the pursuit of happiness; I earnestly believed in this ideal (I still do for the record).
During my first year at university, I dated a beautiful young woman of mixed Asian/American heritage. We related to one another through our cultural similarities. We both had parents that spoke English with accents. We both enjoyed cultural foods. And most importantly, we both enjoyed playing Nintendo Mario Kart. We were incredibly young, but still discussed the possibility of having children someday. The thought of mixed race children was exciting and not really something that bothered either one of us. Having been born and raised in a country where most of my female prospects were a different race, I didn't have much choice than to be comfortable with the idea of miscegenation (why would anyone choose to limit themselves?).
For whatever reasons, this relationship was not 'to be' and much personal growth was gained on both sides (it's how we mature). Looking back, it's funny how people of culture tend to gravitate to one another socially. I observe this phenomena still to this day.
My attraction to culture led me to date all kinds of women which helped me to learn more about myself and the world. I discovered that prejudice doesn't just come from ignorant bigotry, but also from educated ethnic indoctrination. I had always witnessed irrational hatred for other races, religions, and gender orientations growing up in Texas. The degree of xenophobia ranged from careless jokes and stereotypes to hurtful intentions and physical aggression. However, one of the most pernicious forms of racism struck me when I encountered the concept of racial purity and that my perceived "impure" blood line should not be mixed with someone of 'pure' breeding (Basically the subplot of the Harry Potter Novels).
Psychology teaches us that children learn to display discriminatory behavior from their environment, and that they are not born with intrinsic hatred toward any people. In other words, hate is a learned behavior. The poisoning of minds begins at home and if supported by the community is allowed to thrive and develop into concrete belief like a virus consuming its host. The reason this strain of bigotry is particularly damaging is because its indoctrination is premeditated and long before the host can break free from its grasp, they have to fight against friends, family, and a community that has embedded itself into the identity of the individual (I don't know many people who have the strength to fight this).
I wish I could write that there is a cure for all forms of bigotry, but all one can do is to live your life by example and base your policy on being truthful to your beliefs. It was said that "Truly unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven", which I have interpreted as the return to innocence like the un-poisoned minds of children at play with one another regardless of race, religion, orientation, and wealth. At any rate, if one subscribes to the concept of heaven, I'm pretty sure ALL are welcome.
I was first introduced to the word "miscegenation" during my senior year in high school while reading Faulkner. It refers to the mixing of races. I read through the novel with the fervor of a student expecting to graduate from an all boys preparatory school and attend a co-ed university in less than a yr. I comprehended the bare minimum.
Being the son of immigrant parents, I didn't realize the gravity of racial sexual selection until it was time to marry and settle down. Growing up in a country touted as a 'melting pot' of diverse cultural constituents founded upon the principles of fairness, equality, religious freedom, and the pursuit of happiness; I earnestly believed in this ideal (I still do for the record).
During my first year at university, I dated a beautiful young woman of mixed Asian/American heritage. We related to one another through our cultural similarities. We both had parents that spoke English with accents. We both enjoyed cultural foods. And most importantly, we both enjoyed playing Nintendo Mario Kart. We were incredibly young, but still discussed the possibility of having children someday. The thought of mixed race children was exciting and not really something that bothered either one of us. Having been born and raised in a country where most of my female prospects were a different race, I didn't have much choice than to be comfortable with the idea of miscegenation (why would anyone choose to limit themselves?).
For whatever reasons, this relationship was not 'to be' and much personal growth was gained on both sides (it's how we mature). Looking back, it's funny how people of culture tend to gravitate to one another socially. I observe this phenomena still to this day.
My attraction to culture led me to date all kinds of women which helped me to learn more about myself and the world. I discovered that prejudice doesn't just come from ignorant bigotry, but also from educated ethnic indoctrination. I had always witnessed irrational hatred for other races, religions, and gender orientations growing up in Texas. The degree of xenophobia ranged from careless jokes and stereotypes to hurtful intentions and physical aggression. However, one of the most pernicious forms of racism struck me when I encountered the concept of racial purity and that my perceived "impure" blood line should not be mixed with someone of 'pure' breeding (Basically the subplot of the Harry Potter Novels).
Psychology teaches us that children learn to display discriminatory behavior from their environment, and that they are not born with intrinsic hatred toward any people. In other words, hate is a learned behavior. The poisoning of minds begins at home and if supported by the community is allowed to thrive and develop into concrete belief like a virus consuming its host. The reason this strain of bigotry is particularly damaging is because its indoctrination is premeditated and long before the host can break free from its grasp, they have to fight against friends, family, and a community that has embedded itself into the identity of the individual (I don't know many people who have the strength to fight this).
I wish I could write that there is a cure for all forms of bigotry, but all one can do is to live your life by example and base your policy on being truthful to your beliefs. It was said that "Truly unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven", which I have interpreted as the return to innocence like the un-poisoned minds of children at play with one another regardless of race, religion, orientation, and wealth. At any rate, if one subscribes to the concept of heaven, I'm pretty sure ALL are welcome.
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