Racial Intolerance: Societies from Different Cultural - Essay Example

The bakery It is often suggested that living in society should be seen as an irreplaceable prerequisite for the development of the inner potential of a person. Indeed, if it had not been for the presence of other people around, a tremendous number of features that are considered to be characteristic could not have evolved. Nevertheless, it must be noted that the social environment is not always a favorable platform that provides people with new opportunities and contributes to their personal growth. It often happens that a certain part of the population dominates social life and the rest of the people are oppressed in one way or another. Societies that are made of those who come from different cultural background are most vulnerable to this phenomenon. In this paper will I show that even in the contemporary society, there are cases of discrimination based on race and such situation continues since it is supported by the lack of actions of the majority. The story that will be told happened in a small bakery. One day I entered a small bakery and wanted to order a coffee and a bagel. However, the clerk refused to serve me, pointing out that he would not like to do business with people of my race. If he had not said that, I would not have noticed that we truly were of a different race. I was so accustomed to see people who come from different cultural background behind the counter that I no longer noticed what ethnicity there were. The words of the clerk shocked me. - Excuse me? What do you mean by saying that you do not want to do business with me? Did I make you sign a contract or something? - You want to buy a coffee, so you will give me money. - Yeah, that is how it works, you know. - We do not need you money, get it? Our bakery will survive another day without your several dollars. If we accept your money, we will lose much more that we can buy on it. - I have no idea what you are talking about. I do not care about your views on race in the society, but I want no conflict. I just want a coffee and a bagel. Would the social order collapse if you serve me? - It would not, but someone has to start, you know. - And you are the glorious knight to lead this crusade? That’s ridiculous! Sir, excuse me sir, could you buy me a coffee and a bagel? I’ll pay you. - That would not do. I will not serve him if he buys something for you! - But he belongs to you race! Will not you serve one of your kind? - Stop playing around, it is not about money, it is about principles. I will sell whatever we have, sir, but if you intend to buy something for that customer over there, I will do my best to make sure that the products of our bakery will not be consumed. There were several people watching this situation as if it was on TV. Some people in the crowd gave the clerk thumbs up. They probably came to buy a coffee and were surprised that they found a person who has the same views on race as they do. No body wanted to start a riot, but the atmosphere of acceptance and desire to keep this state of affair was felt among those who were looking at me ironically. They enjoyed the fact that a representative of a race that they did not like was not served properly. It was not a victory, but it was a very close feeling. They watched me, wishing that they would be the clerk to actually articulate their true thoughts. However, it must be noted that among the people who came to the bakery, there also were some that disagreed with the clerk and supported me. They did not attack him physically, but they made some statements which shows that they were against his behavior. Suddenly I felt that I was not alone in this battle for a coffee and a bagel. It is true that my move with asking a different person to buy me goods failed, but I understood that it failed no because there were no people to help me, but because the clerk was in charge, at least temporarily. When I looked at the group of people in the bakery, I saw different opinions and different views on the exact problem. I thought that something similar might happen in the society. Indeed, organizing a multicultural and a diverse society can be difficult for the government, but the latter deals with issues that are much greater than buying a coffee and a bagel. I did not try to promote my culture, I did not try to make a statement, I simply wanted to order my breakfast and be off. However, there is another thing I noticed when I looked back at the situation surprised me even more than the reaction of the inadequate clerk. I can remember two guys cheering for him and three who looked at me with support, but the remaining customers were indifferent. Our little confrontation gathered an entre crowd, but only a part of it was active. In other words, many people saw that something unjust is happening before their eyes, but they had no reaction to it. Having been in the argument for ten minutes I suddenly remembered that they clerk was breaking the law. I said: - Dear sir, please note that according to the applicable legislation of the country that we both live in, you are not allowed to refuse to serve me because of my race. There are obviously some circumstances when you are free to do so, but none of them are connected to my ethnicity in any way. - Are you a lawyer or something? - No, I am a concerned citizen who wants a coffee and a bagel. Just like I said, I do not want to have an argument with out about her perspective on different races, but please, can I have my order? Of course, I was denied. I did understand that I could call the police and report such a behavior, but was it worth it? I met a young radical who had a tiny portion of power and tried to use it to advance his point of view. There is no doubt that from his perspective, he was doing the right thing, but do racial conflicts have to be started over a coffee and a bagel? Will I be able to distort the balance of social life by ordering a breakfast from a person who belongs to a different cultural background that I am? The dialogue of races is not over in the contemporary American society, but there surely is a platform for exchange of opinions and a platform to leave daily lives. I can respect other people’s principles, but is there is a need to advance them at the cost of senseless arguments? The story that was presented in the paragraphs above shows that racial intolerance did not die with segregation, but can be encountered at the contemporary society. While it is understandable that several decades is not enough to teach the population to think differently, the situation showed that the majority of the people did not make any effort to introduce any changes into the existing state of affairs and end discrimination. Read More