I know that today is not pink shirt day, Today is a day that the United Nations organization has decided to promote as ZERO DISCRIMINATION DAY, March 1st that is.

This started me thinking about Discrimination which in my mind is similar to bullying! 

The definition of Discrimination is

1. the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.

   “victims of racial discrimination”
2. recognition and understanding of the difference between one thing and another.

First I thought we all are discriminating and that is right. We believe in a code of conduct, and we also make decisions that protect and benefit ourselves and our family. That is the latter definition above which is about making decisions, and using discernment and our judgement.

The Discrimination we don’t want is unfair discrimination such as Age, Gender, Sexuality, Nationality, Ethnicity, Skin color, height, weight, profession, education or beliefs. That could be described possibly as bias, or intolerance.

Second I thought about Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) I decided to read a bit about him on Wikipedia and then look up some quotes. I liked and learned how he saw discrimination in some people as a sickness. I think he saw people could be cured through education and non-violent marches to push them to think.

MLK said this:

DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS; ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT. HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE; ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT.

RARELY DO WE FIND MEN WHO WILLINGLY ENGAGE IN HARD, SOLID THINKING. THERE IS AN ALMOST UNIVERSAL QUEST FOR EASY ANSWERS AND HALF-BAKED SOLUTIONS. NOTHING PAINS SOME PEOPLE MORE THAN HAVING TO THINK.

Let’s think when we are making decisions, and make sure our discrimination in our lives is the right kind, as in the choosing between two things on the proper merits. The discrimination (choice) is ours.

The defense against the wrong kind, the prejudicial type of prejudice is to be thinking. I like to believe that if we pause and think, we can do better.

Plus we have to speak up in support of others even when they, not us us are unfairly discriminated against. When people are treated unfairly, let’s all stand up and shine a light on the darkness in a peaceful way. I think this is happening already.

William Faulkner said:

“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the earth.”

I hope that I expressed this well, what do you think? Ideas, suggestions?

Thanks for visiting and your helpful comments are welcome.