In School we recite pledges that show our allegiance to our countries. We read and write based off a curriculum that is called 'standard' for our country/state/province, etc. We learn manners, morals, and overall etiquette based off of our cultures. We do this for many years and never stop, because our way is the only way right? Now let me ask you this: If I were to stick two babies from two different countries in a room...

They walk towards each other and perhaps touch one another’s arms/legs/ head... I don’t know-whatever weird interactions babies use to familiarize their selves with an object. Now, these babies smile and laugh and go on about their business sucking their thumbs or shaking their rattles. If I stuck an elementary aged child from America and another child of the same age from I don’t know, Cuba -- in the same room, what would happen? My guess is the same as yours; they would talk, notice their differences, and not care. So, one last scenario... What if we did that same experiment with high school kids. They know a little more about the world from their studies, and maybe even travels -- how do they act? Some would say they would notice their differences, and not care. However, some may say they would argue and be protective of their country and all they stand for.

Now, after thinking of this experiment- we see a common pattern. We choose to discriminate through examples of what we see and hear. There is no hiding history -- events of terror, heartbreak and betrayal. The holocaust, 9-11, every war we have ever had, Pearl Harbor, etc. Also things such as overthrown governments, terrorist attacks, bombings, threats, liars, thieves, etc. You get the picture I am painting here. So one question comes to mind when I think of all these things: leaders. Each of these events had SOMEONE calling shots. A head-honcho, per-say. Then another question arises: Why? What would push someone so over the edge that they would conduct such a tragic incident on another human being?

When times get tough -- in a country, state, community, household, etc. -- it is in our psychological makeup to defend ourselves. Whether this be physically, emotionally, voluntarily, involuntarily, alone, in a group, etc. However, it is important to recall the "leader" aspect here. Who is going to do what, when, where, and how? Believe it or not, we do this in our everyday lives doing simple task; going to the grocery store, planning an outing, getting who where they need to go, etc. So how easy it is to get into this cycle of thinking. Disciplining our minds to think quickly, with a lot if scenarios and options.

Now- my point. If as children we do not care about diversities, why as adults are we the first to call out the obvious? To me, I believe we are going backwards. As children, we watch others. We intake everything we possibly can to grow our brain cells and expand our understandings. We begin to have emotional responses to situations as they are presented. We watch our elders and see how they look at the world -- picking up bits of their views, beliefs, etc. Now this is where we start what I like to call "The stage of Thinking Backwards."

You see, we have grown to think in our own ways in order to defend ourselves in all aspects of life. We as individuals have conducted our own set of morals, values, and beliefs- right? Wrong. Let me ask you this: when was the last time you read a book/article/magazine title and said "I'm not sure about that," instead of "That’s so wrong!" or, "That’s not my problem," or "That doesn't affect me,” and so on. You get the point. When we see something its natural to form an opinion based off of a couple of words slapped on a piece of paper, that really have no meaning until we learn where, why, who, and how it all became real.

What's funny is that, as adults, we are now shaping our beliefs based the beliefs of other people? And now summons the stage of backwards thinking. As children we formed our own ideas -- now media, tabloids, "leaders," word of mouth, corruption, seduction and anything else you can think of shapes everything you thought you knew to be "genuine" to you. We allow people and events to manipulate our outlooks and our voices, essentially. We are suppressed from being different in thought and ill respected because of what we believe.

Want to know something even funnier... We all do this to other people. You'd be lying to say you have never slurred a discriminatory word or phrase, or even saying you disassociate with a certain group of people no matter how small or large, do to their belief system. And for what? To be able to protect... what?

A country is made of billions of people. All of different descent, gender, age, races, ethnicity, social background, etc. What’s sad Is this backwards thinking- is affecting the most important opinions of all -- our children. The children from America. The children in Cuba...The children of Africa... The children of South America... The children of Europe... The children across every continent on the entire sphere of what we call mother Earth… Home.

This is my home, and this is your home. I am equal to you, and you are equal to me. I do not have to believe, support, or practice what you do... but I take an oath to not inflect my differences on to the later generation. I acknowledge our broken world, and with every step we take to making it better, I hereby promise to allow my children and all young people of the world to have a choice- a chance. To be who they want/desire/need to be.

This will never be a perfect world, it will never be an equal or discrimination free-zone. Our eyes will forever be stroked with an extra coating of reality and all that we see and do not act on. But, taking a step is what starts the reincarnation. We built this world up... all of us. It took all the settlers from different countries to form the world. We simply supplied the borders in which we gave people power.

Who we choose to be is our choice, who the next generation chooses to be is their choice. We only live one life, and if you get one thing from this article, let it be this. My opinion is mine only, and yours is yours only. Everyone is entitled, however, pointing fingers to highlight discrimination is childish. We provide our children with knowledge, but have we given them all the information we can possibly give them for them to be able to thoroughly choose who they want to be?

So maybe it is watching commentaries about a country you don’t know about, or learning a new language… maybe it’s interacting in a new organization or celebrating a new holiday. To each is own. My mom always said you can’t knock it until you’ve tried it, and I can tell you I won’t. Because at my age I still don’t know enough to have strong opinions, and I look forward to feeding my brain the fruit of knowledge, and fully exploring this place we call home.