Really? I mean...really?
I am not trained in any branch of social work or mental health services. I do, however, work for a mental health organization, and this organization specifically serves populations that have government health care (MediCal, specifically).
Not having any training in social work and etc, it is very easy for me to judge people quite harshly (rather than leaping to a completely different conclusion like - "Maybe he/she suffers from Tourrettes").
I splurged today on a caffeinated beverage. As I was in the convenience store around the corner from where I work, a woman came in and was muttering quite loudly "I'm gonna get those Jewish pigs at (name of my company). I'm gonna get those Jewish pigs at (name of my company)." Pause. "I'm gonna get those Jewish pigs...." And so on.
Now, I'm assuming that she is a client of ours. That leads to a further assumption that she is suffering from some kind of mental illness - I suppose it can be anything from anger issues to schizophrenia. What do I know?
What I do know is that I had a very visceral reaction to her comments. Even knowing that she is probably suffering from some kind of mental illness, I couldn't help thinking "What a horrible woman. What an ignorant, ugly-minded woman."
It's odd, I even felt a great deal of pity (which I'm sure would not be appreciated) for everyone with Jewish roots - whether they're practicing or not.
I know enough of European and American history to know that Jews have been popular scapegoats for centuries. (Of course, they are not the only population that has been used in this manner...but that's not my point right now.)
I am living in the United States in the year 2008. I know that, being human, we are all far from perfect. We also all have our own opinions. There are many people that I don't agree with. There are many politicians and people in the public eye towards whom I enjoy a healthy dislike. I am certainly prejudiced against these people.
It's one thing to dislike an individual.
It's a completely different thing to hate an entire group. And that prejudice is especially horrible when that hate is based on a tradition of fear and ignorance rather than actual knowledge of what the individuals who make up that group are like.
<climbs down off of soapbox>
