The "Hitler Effect"

The "Hitler Effect" is my own name for what I'm about to explain, if you want to call it something else that's totally up to you. This post is in no way designed to be hateful or force you to hold my views. This is only my opinion based on conversations I've heard and people I've met.

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It makes me sad when I see people denounce their faith, religion, heritage etc based on someone'e radical view or their pushy attitude. One person I know said they didn't even want anything to do with their previous faith because of someone who gave that faith a bad rep. Now, I can understand why this person is upset, but at the same time it's not a reason to stop believing in the god you do. Just because ONE person decided to do things their own way, does't mean you should stop doing or believing in what you do. Inevitably, this is why I call it the "Hitler Effect." He let ONE Jewish person decide the fate of EVERY single Jew. Just like you shouldn't say all whites like mayo or all Asians like pandas. It's a generalization that doesn't mean every one in that race likes one particular thing. Not everyone in my family of African Americans likes fried chicken.

Speaking of African Americans, there are some out there that make me mad! Why? They act like what the slave masters thought we were, animals. They talk trash, they act like everything is entitled to them and they don't care about other people'e feelings. Should this mean I should not "label" myself as an African American? No! I was raised differently. I was taught to talk properly, to respect others and to treat people the same way I would want to be treated. Unfortunately, this is not common anymore. (There are white people who act like the above as well...) Sadly, it's become expected for a young black person to not graduate high school, to have three kids without being married and I could go on. Because of all this, people make the assumption that ALL of us are like this. NO! This goes along with the "Hitler Effect" because many see their black neighbors or see us walking down the street or in a grocery store and start generalizing.

Personally, I find all of these media and news pieces that talk in generalizations and/or talk about one person in a particular faith who says things puts the whole faith in a bad light, extremely annoying. To go even further, each one of us shouldn't read or watch these stories and stop doing what we know is right. I'm still going to be Ruth Jackson who is strong, independent, writer, creative, Christian, African American despite those who put my race, faith, religion, background, education-you name it-in a bad light. You should stand your ground and not let anyone else shake your core.

I hope this post gives you something deeper to think about and hopefully it helps you ask those hard questions which will turn you into a stronger better person. Don't let one person tear you down. Rise above it!