Discrimination Myth

Discrimination. This word itself carries so much negativity. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why we fail to see a brighter side to this word. I think the major reason for the negativity associated with this word is our limited understanding of its true meaning. Whenever we think about discrimination, we tend to focus only on one aspect, which is often driven by hatred, while overlooking the other side of discrimination, which can be based on love.

Discrimination: the state of being able to perceive a difference between two people or things.

Discrimination has played a significant role in the evolution of all kinds of animals, including social animals like us. Throughout history, we have evolved and survived because of our ability to discriminate.

Knowing what to avoid is as important as knowing what to choose.

In a world where discrimination based on factors such as color, caste, creed, nationality, socio-economic status, and many others exists — parameters that we ourselves have defined — we can all agree that Equality is a fundamental right. It is unfair and even cruel to discriminate based on such parameters. I want to make it clear that I am not taking the side of toxic people who discriminate out of hatred, nor am I blaming the victims who have suffered greatly because of it and claiming that it was necessary and right. No! That kind of discrimination is unacceptable. However, we cannot completely eliminate the concept of discrimination, as we would lose all the advantages we gain from discrimination based on love.

One of the most important aspects of discrimination is to avoid common dangers and improve our well-being. We teach our children not to take things from strangers, we advise our loved ones not to get involved in matters that don’t concern them, and we sometimes support people even when they have made mistakes because we expect the same from them. This other side of discrimination not only helps individuals but also strengthens society. It promotes camaraderie, sparks passion, and brings excitement. The enjoyment we derive from games, movies, and music all stems from discrimination. We cheer when our favorite football team scores a goal because it excites us, and for the same reason, we take pleasure in witnessing the downfall of our rival team. We all have different preferences in music, cinema, and sports teams, and it is these differences in our choices and thinking that give rise to discrimination.

We discriminate all the time — among things, people, activities, and more. We choose whom to spend our time with, we prioritize certain activities over others, and we assign different values and importance to our possessions. So, whenever we make choices among people or things, we are discriminating. Discrimination is absolutely necessary for our existence! I genuinely believe that:

“Love is the ultimate form of discrimination, just as hatred is.”

Therefore, the next time you find yourself condemning the concept of discrimination due to its negative reputation, try to think of other instances where you have benefited greatly because of it!