Perhaps it is hard for some of us to comprehend my point; for others can be more manageable. But if you look inside yourself, you will indeed find something poignant in you that society disapproves of. What I refer to here are not the shallow things but things deep inside you that define who you are.
If you can see that particular spot, you can notice the debilitating soreness society’s disapproval causes. Then you can imagine what it would be like to experience that agony every day of your life.
We all have ethnic roots coming from different cultural backgrounds. There is not a single superior race on this earth. Each culture is unique and brings its own values to global society. We all share this tiny planet in the vast universe.
Living and working in 30 plus different countries, my ethnicity has always been an issue. Personal questions made me uncomfortable sometimes. When I gave honest answers, the body language of the natives depicted disapproval.
Some even joked about my name and looks, even disturbing remarks offending me at a deeper level. Some caring mentors even proposed changing my name to survive in those countries where my name was not expected and familiar. I listened to them but never chose to hide my identity to gain the approval of prejudiced people. I did not want to change my identity.
I respected people in every country I lived and worked in. I lived by following the country’s rules, respecting their culture, and adhering to work ethics. It was difficult for me to understand why my cultural background and identity bothered them and caused disapproval.
I firmly believe that we are all equal as human beings. We all have body, mind, and soul regardless of our color, culture, gender, sexual orientation, age, disabilities, beliefs, and perspectives.
You can read the story on Medium: Imagine How It Feels To Be Black Or Brown In A White Country: It sometimes can be too exhausting
Dr Mehmet Yildiz 