Prejudice Against the Prejudice?

Louis Theroux does documentaries on for the BBC about the ridiculosities of the world. This is pretty outrageous.

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I think Theroux is amazing, but part of me is frustrated that they are getting even more publicity, negative or otherwise. When it ended I felt a bit sick thinking about such ignorance. However, I suppose it exposed another absurdity.

And as the film rolled on I found myself becoming more and more indignant towards unquestioning minds who willingly take anything put in front of them. But, I fear that it perhaps made me too certain, almost condescending- a quality characteristic to the individuals documented.

My point is that I have conflicting feelings about this film. I don't know. I definitely think that there is nothing positive about what these people are doing, but I don't think I like how absolutely I reject it. I fear prejudice. I don't believe I will ever adopt it, but the thoughts I had about the Phelps family were derisive and unkind and unyielding.

Vaguely related,

While I was traveling in southern Africa, I met so many beautiful people who had lives with more potential then they had ever thought to find. They hadn't seen more than the towns or village areas in which they lived. It isn't normal for them to think about a different life than the one set out for them. I found myself wanting desperately to teach the kids there to question things they'd normally accept.

Is that interfering with their culture? Disrespecting their people? It wasn't out of dislike for the people, by any means, but out of concern for their youth. The only thing I truly think the west can contribute to underdeveloped nations is our notion of freedom. Sovereignty in every individual life, so you can choose what you want to take in and what you'd like to release.

Not letting restrictive societal beliefs and unfortunate circumstances nestle inside of you or define your being. Not letting the banal, droning, suffocating, insubstantial reality of others impose itself on you. I am NOT, not not not saying that the people of Africa subject their children to this. They don't hurt them. Or, at least they don't intend to. It's just the way that things have been for so long- no choices, no questions.

And not everyone is like this. Definitely not. I'm just speaking in general terms, I guess. It's astounding to see the number of kids who don't think of college as a real option, ever, or who don't wonder if their futures are actually their own. And religion is as given as anything, no questions asked. Upon explaining to people that I am not religious, they look at me with pity- clearly my soul needs to be saved.

I hate being looked at like I'm doomed to eternal damnation because my connections with life are different from another's. I accepted it- I couldn't do much else- but it was quite isolating at times.

Can it be that I am wrong in trying to teach people who believe that there are no other ways that there indeed are?

I don't know. I mean I clearly think that freewill is vital, but who am I to decide what is necessary for another's life? Sheesh I don't know.

Judgement of the judgmental, hateful of the hateful, better than the elitist- are we prejudice against the prejudice?