NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm Jewish, my best friend is Christian (Although he is currently struggling with his faith), my second best friend is Taoist, and amongst the rest of my close-knit group of friends we have Hinduists, Shintoists, and I think a Muslim but never really got around to asking him (If he was Muslim it was by birth only, he is a professed Atheist).

I am white, as is the aformentioned best friend, the aforementioned second best friend is Asian, and the mentioned group of friends has other Whites, Asians, Blacks, and Indians (From India).

We have never had any problems with religion, race, or even place of birth (We all live in New Jersey but many have moved here from assorted other states and even other countries). We have been friends all through High School (Except the mentioned best friend who I met when I was two) and regularly spent time in (and out) of school as one big group.

If we can do it so easily, why can't the rest of the world?

I'm Jewish, my best friend is Christian (Although he is currently struggling with his faith), my second best friend is Taoist, and amongst the rest of my close-knit group of friends we have Hinduists, Shintoists, and I think a Muslim but never really got around to asking him (If he was Muslim it was by birth only, he is a professed Atheist).

I am white, as is the aformentioned best friend, the aforementioned second best friend is Asian, and the mentioned group of friends has other Whites, Asians, Blacks, and Indians (From India).

We have never had any problems with religion, race, or even place of birth (We all live in New Jersey but many have moved here from assorted other states and even other countries). We have been friends all through High School (Except the mentioned best friend who I met when I was two) and regularly spent time in (and out) of school as one big group.

If we can do it so easily, why can't the rest of the world?

Because the rest of the world are morons: morons

Because the rest of the world are morons: morons
I think the morons are just the loudest.

Because most of the world is isolated from diversity and therefore intolerant of it.

I think the morons are just the loudest.
Well they have to do something. So they're loud. It's what they do. ;)

Because most of the world is isolated from diversity and therefore intolerant of it.
That's definitely a huge part of it. Plus, if you're brought up racist/intolerant, there's a good chance you'll bring your children up that way etc.. It passes down generations, and there is no good reason. Lots of people with racist parents do not become racist of course, but not all.

I've got a pretty diverse group of friends too - my best friend is half-european, half-japanese, i have two friends from germany, one from puerto rico, a bunch of italian friends, and a good few of my friends are east-asian or indian . . . and just about every religion you could name, too.

we never meant it like that, there was just 1 ass who made a problem

If we can do it so easily, why can't the rest of the world?

We can. Once we get past an "us-they" mentality. Part of the time I spent growing up was in DC, where I still have a group of friends. Two of us are Christian (though very different denominations and practices), one Hindu, one Muslim, and two Atheists. We had one from Germany, myself from the US, one from China, one from India, one from Mexico, and one from S Korea. There's a mix of anarchists (they still exist!), socialists, democrats, and republicans in that group. We had no problem getting along and no one got blamed when one political group, ethnic group, or religious group got out of hand doing something stupid.

Why doesn't that happen all the time? Because we can say "they" did something wrong if we know we won't have to associate with "them". It makes it easier to villify something instead of think about it and understand. Sure, some stuff is just plain wrong (9/11 attacks, for instance) and should be treated as such, but saying muslims are evil because of that is moronic. I think most people actually understand this. The few who don't usually aren't around anyone of that race / religion / political movement that lends any credence to the idea.

Look at it this way. I lived in the "deep south" of the US for some time. Segregation is still a fact there. Of the white people I knew, many had only come in contact with a black man when they got mugged or robbed. That's all they knew. Of the black folks I knew, many only came in contact with white people when robbing them ... joking ... when working for them (and many of these bosses were ignorant pricks themselves). Neither side has a good view of the other, but refuses to mix it up and learn anything at the same time. Ignorance + Laziness + Victimization = Intolerance.

You know what would unite the world like nothing else?

A big fucking asteroid breaking the moon into two moons.

You know what would unite the world like nothing else?

A big fucking asteroid breaking the moon into two moons.

Or destroy it entirely. One or the other. Actually, I think imminant doom would probably just cause more looting like the San Fran riots and divide people even further. Nothing says, "what the hell, might as well," quite like the imminant death of billions of non-religious people.

If we can do it so easily, why can't the rest of the world?
Because you are reasonable and extremists are not.
The only difference between George Bush and Osama bin Laden is that one strongly believes the Messiah has already presented himself and the other strongly believes some 7th century merchant says there hasn't been a Messiah yet.
(Well, it's a BIT more complicated than that, but I think you get the gist).

Because the rest of the world are morons: morons

Yeah, I'm with Jim on this one.

I had to laugh when I read your thread Klonor after seeing it's title. You see my family really is as diverse as your group of friends.

Because the rest of the world are morons: morons

I must say, that really does explain a lot

I'm Jewish, my best friend is Christian (Although he is currently struggling with his faith), my second best friend is Taoist, and amongst the rest of my close-knit group of friends we have Hinduists, Shintoists, and I think a Muslim but never really got around to asking him (If he was Muslim it was by birth only, he is a professed Atheist).

I am white, as is the aformentioned best friend, the aforementioned second best friend is Asian, and the mentioned group of friends has other Whites, Asians, Blacks, and Indians (From India).

We have never had any problems with religion, race, or even place of birth (We all live in New Jersey but many have moved here from assorted other states and even other countries). We have been friends all through High School (Except the mentioned best friend who I met when I was two) and regularly spent time in (and out) of school as one big group.

If we can do it so easily, why can't the rest of the world?

Pretty much the same thing with me. We have several asians, some hispanics, a sri lankan, and a bunch of white guys. Most of us are catholic because we go to a catholic school, but I'm and atheist and we have another kid who's Jewish. I'm also friends with a muslim and a hindu who don't hang out with us very often. We make fun of each other all the time and never get into serious fights. If we do get into minor fights, its over personal things, like smoking, not over race or religion.