In the space below, write a 500-word essay explaining why people sometimes hurt others simply because they are different or have different views or beliefs. support your thesis with excerpts and details from three works that you read in this unit as well as information from nonfiction texts.

Each and every society has established certain standards that are commonly used and accepted by most people. Automatically, those standards become “the correct way to see or do something” and everything that is different from it is considered strange, uncomfortable and/or not good enough.  

That said, many people find it hard to embrace the differences and they end up hurting other people just because they have a different point of view, a different skin tone, a different religion, a different income, a different nationality, a different background, a different education or a different language – just to name a few! Therefore that’s the way they have found to express how uncomfortable they are whenever they have to face any changes in their lives. Some people are not even aware that they make inapropriate comments that could actually hurt someone else just because they are somehow different from each other. And because they are not aware, they create a pattern and keep doing the same thing over and over again.

On the other hand, the ones who grew up surrounded by different backgrounds, people and personalities tend to be more open in order to accept whoever is different from them. They are not bothered at all if they have to live / work / talk / be friends with people who are completely different from them – they actually celebrate the differences and always try to make the most of it!

Nowadays we live in a very diverse, multi-cultural nation where is more than normal to find people who are different from one another in all ways possible. Instead of hurting or making fun of them because of it, we should have an open mind in order to learn new things from them and become better citzens. Exercising empathy is also very helpful. Once you put yourself on somebody else’s shoes, you understand that person better and you are able to tolerate the differences. Also, we must accept that nobody and nothing is perfect. We all make mistakes, we all have ups and downs, we all have qualities and skills and each one of us is an unique individual who can contribute with our society and make the world a better place to live. And this is only possible because of the differences, since we all have different skills and different points of view. The world would definitely be very predictable and boring if we all looked and thought alike.  

ATTENTION: You have mentioned three excerpts that must be related to your question but you didn’t share those excerpts in this website, so I answered the main question itself (the essay) and gave you enough arguments in order for you to relate the subject discussed in that essay with the missing excerpts. In case you want to share them with me, I can reformulate the essay for you, but I guess now that you have a central idea of what must be discussed, it’s easier for you to just complete the task by yourself.  

a, overstatement is the answer