fighting prejudice

“The French do not know they are French. Australian’s do not know they are Australian. But they are!”
Fernando Flores.

I struggle with prejudice every day.  Prejudice against women. Prejudice against older people. Prejudice against younger people. Prejudice against people who have skin that is a different colour to mine. Prejudice against Americans. Prejudice against Europeans.

Even prejudice against you because of who you are..

I don’t always see them but when I do I am upset by them.

The trouble is they are my prejudices.

Because I am a man I rarely know I am a man.
But I am a man.

Because I am my age I rarely know I am my age.
But I am that age.

Because I have my skin I rarely know what colour it is.
But I am that colour.

Because I am Australian I rarely know I am Australian.
But I am Australian.

I don’t always see my prejudices but when I do, I am upset by them.

Some days, like today, I am lucky enough to have them put into stark contrast with the world I inhabit.

I find my self in a room full of people who are many of the things that I am not and  I am reminded of the truth of life.

I am and we are. There is no difference between us.

Except maybe for our prejudices.