Yet, without a wonderful, personal dream to believe in, we are unlikely to invest ourselves in its manifestation. In the absence of something positive, we will then fill the vacuum that forms in our minds and hearts with all forms of negative rationalizations. We use them in an attempt to explain our apathy, lack of effort, and non-achievement to others. However, we are actually telling others as a way to explain it to ourselves. If others believe what we say is true, then we give ourselves permission to keep using the rationalization, and even believe that it is true.
Racism is one such negative rationalization.
However, it is only one. There are many, for rationalizing is a human trait. Sexism, nationalism, and elitism are others. Indeed, the term ismism might be appropriate, because race isn t the only reason that people use to rationalize inhuman treatment toward other, different human beings. When I was a child my grandmother used to recite the axiom that an idle mind is the devil s workshop.