As humans we are naturally biased
Bias is an inclination of human behavior towards a particular thing or side. It can be natural- or rational- or even incident-based. Natural bias is common and may come from your cultural, language, religious, faith, ideology or country of birth. If you are socialist, more likely you will support socialistic ideology around the world. If you are Christian, you are more likely feel sad when Christians are oppressed in other countries.
As Americans, we are saddened when we see our people is killed around the world, whatever reason may be.
So nothing is wrong or abnormal about being biased.
First of all as human being, we all have empathy. The empathy is very much biased. It starts from family members to your community members to those who look like us.
Let me now give an example: I am a Bengali because of my mother’s tongue. I am Bangladeshi because of my country of origin or birth. I am Hindu because I was born in a Hindu family. I am not a political activist but ideologically I feel comfortable with socialism. Through naturalization I became citizen of Australia in 1998 and then became U.S. citizen in 2010.
Recently, a world cricket game is running in Australia and New Zealand. As an Asian, we understand cricket better than baseball. There was a quarter-final between Bangladesh and India.
As a Bengali and Bangladeshi, I should support Bangladesh. On the other hand, as a Hindu, I could be inclined to support India, a Hindu majority country in the world. I was watching the game with one of my Indian friends. My friend is obviously Indian supporter. However, I told him, I would be very happy if Bangladesh wins, but, if not, I won’t be disappointed much.
Anyway, the Bangladesh team lost, though there were controversies of umpiring. Soon there would be semifinal game between India and Australia. Which side I should support? By religion and a neighboring country, should I support India? Or I should support Australia as my first naturalized country? Some sort of biasness works in your mind. Alternately, I could be neutral, whoever plays the better game, I am for them.
This is just a game I am referring, which we are watching in television. What happens when there is a war between the two countries that I am related to or biased somehow? We know we all take the oath when we become a citizen. We are supposed to defend our country of naturalization in a war between my country of birth and the country of naturalization. Or irrespective of religious faith, we have to defend our naturalized country in a situation of war.
Bias still works in everybody’s mind. We had terrible news recently of a mosque suicide bombing in Yemen. More than 130 people were killed. As a human, we don’t want to see innocent human killed for no reason, especially in a religious place. As a person, I don’t have any connection with Yemen, but still I felt saddened as a human. I would be more saddened, if it happens in Bangladesh, India or Australia.
It would be hard to ignore biasness. There would be always some biasness because of color, race or religion. However, biasness should not lead to killing some. Not ever.
Jiben Roy
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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