The ten commandments for fighting bigotry

Most Australians want to end prejudice and discrimination. I’m often asked, “How can one person make a difference?”

Here are the ten commandments for fighting bigotry:

Look in the mirror

Make a decision to examine your own biases. What assumptions do you carry? Are you quick to label people? What is your unresolved prejudice? It’s not easy, and may be scary to acknowledge your own intolerance and then work through to overcome it. The process of breaking the cycle of racism begins with you. Only then can you genuinely influence others.

Stand up

Edmund Burke said that “All it takes for evil to triumph in the world is for good men to do nothing”. Don’t be indifferent when you witness racism or any kind of prejudice. Apathy may be viewed as acceptance.

Side with the victim

Listen to their story, empathise with their pain and needs, reassure and support them every step of the way. Don’t blame the victim, only the perpetrator.

Do not remain silent

Speak up, write letters to the newspaper, call talkback radio, report any type of hate and injustice to your parents, teacher, employer, police. Condemn and challenge such destructive behaviour. Silence sends the wrong message and gives strength to the bigot.

Set an example

Watch and think about what you say in front of others, especially your children.  Don’t miss the chance to set an example of what it means to be a tolerant person. Befriend people from different backgrounds to your own. Sit with your children and visit websites that describe other countries' religions and history. Consider the cultural diversity reflected in the art, music and literature in your home. Walk the talk.

Take racism seriously

Even if it appears to be a harmless racist joke or a sexist remark, treat it seriously. Don’t brush it aside as just silly, unintentional talk. Slurs, offensive words, vicious stereotypes are often the beginning to harassment and physical violence.

Educate

No one is born a bigot. Prejudice is a learned trait. Counter and reject hurtful stereotypes by teaching family and friends about the impact of prejudicial attitudes. Don’t miss the chance to eradicate ignorance. Summon the courage to tell a brother or a grandfather that what they’ve said sounds so cruel. Describe the behaviour, not the person. To be effective, you need to be informed and knowledgeable.

Build a coalition

Call on your friends, family, workmates, neighbours, school, faith group and sport club to unite in the war against hate. There is strength in numbers. Sitting at home with your ideals does no good. There are plenty of decent people ready to share the workload. Each one will pitch an idea and will add creativity and energy.

Lobby politicians

Politicians can be powerful allies and play a vital role in responding to bias. Ask for action, for public statements condemning bias-driven incidents, and for a declaration supporting tolerance. Insist on real solutions that address the root causes of hatred.

Love thy neighbour

Shouting back is important, but channeling your energies into acts of love is also productive. Organise walks, picnics, garage sales, retreats, live music and discussion groups in the name of human rights and equality. Take your family to an ethnic restaurant, encourage them to read books that promote understanding of different cultures, reflect on the music and art you buy. Befriend people from different backgrounds to your own.

Here is a story that illustrates the power of individual action.

A young boy walks along a beach upon which thousands of starfish are stranded. He picks one up and throws it back into the ocean. A man passing by tells the boy that with so many dying starfish, he won’t make a difference. The young boy picks up one more starfish, throws it back into the ocean and says to the man, "It will make a difference to this one!"

All people are valuable, no one is "less than”. For all our differences, we live in and share the one country.

We can make a difference. One act at a time.