The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-07-17
Mental Slavery
nv ~. ADDINGToN BRYCE
Author OF The Riddle OF Person
Atty" Psychology and
rarenthood." etc.

There Is slavery OF the mind as
we'll as slavery OF the body. The
latter form OF slavery has been nj.
most completely abolished from the
civilized world But mental slavery
still is much in evidence,
Everybody IS n mental slave who
allows himself 20 be dominated in
his thinking and his conduct by un.
reasoning prejudices. II he Is
blindly bitter against fellow men
as in matters OF race. religion. or
politics he is not a free man but
a slave.
There are some things which
arouse justihably bitter feelings.
There are some prejudices, ground.
cd in intuitive moral standards.
which all right-thinking men ought
20 have
Every man ought 10 feel preju-
diced intensely preiudiced. against
those guilty OF broken faith, ruth.
less cruelty. malicious and wanton
destruction OF life or property
Against wickedness Of every kind
there Is indeed reason for preju-
dice.
Rut 20 treat dIsdainfully another
human being simply because ne
happens 10 belong 20 particular
race or religious denomination or
political party Is evidence not ~
right thinking. but ~ wrong think.
Ina 49, II. a
thinking
We all of us know people who
thus behave 10 we. by any sad
chance. thus behave ourselves
II t. q question that every one of
us ought 20 put 10 himself. And the
bes, way 20 get decisive and hon
est answer 20 Il IS 20 analyze our
attitude toward persons whom We
are ready 10 admit that we dislike.
10 we have any really valid rea-
sons for dlsliking them Or, n
closely examined. is our hostile atti-
tude determined solely by some
such thing as the race 10 which
they belong. the religious faith they
bold. or the political party with
which they are affiliated7
II this Is tho only ground we have
for disliking them. are We behaving
sensihly7
Are We behaving like men free
20 think for themselves and actual
~ thinking for themselves?
SIN more
Are not our blind preiuiices harm.
ful 20 our own best interests and 20
tho best interests OF our country
The persons whom We unreason-
ably dislike may be talented.
thoughtful truly worthy people.
whom 4, would profit IA 70 know I'm
timately. We might learn from them
much that would help rs 20 grow
IN wisdom and usefulness
Our unreasoning preiudices. in.
deed. may go far toward account.
ing Tor the fact that We are per.
haps finding 81 somewhat difhcult
70 make a success 81 ne Certainly
there are many men 20 whom esti-
mated merely on a bread and butter
basis. unreasoning preJudices are
costly
But they are always most costly
from the larger view OF individual
happiness and social solidarity
SHOW me a man OF blind preiudices.
and viii show Won one who r.
neither As happy nor as good a citi
zen as he odght 20 be
Blind prejudices. 20 be sure, are
hard things 20 get rid Of Yet.
once they are recognized as pres.
ent earnest effort 10 get rid OF them
should be made
To uproot them Il will be neces-
sary 10 drill ourselves, Az we have
never drilled before in independent
thinking We must become accus-
toned 20 reason for ourselves about
all things OF Importance. 70 think
them out slowly. carefully, logically.
The more we strengthen our rea-
soning powers by regular exercise.
the weaker will be the hold that
prejudice has on Us, and the more
free mentally We shall become.