Summary Reaction Journal
Patrick tells a story of high academic performance being passed down generationally in a family. He seems to believe that since one is from a family where most members have succeeded academically they must also perform outstandingly. This is a distorted view as there are so many other factors that determine ones academic abilities rather than family or background as people are born different, go into different schools and also undergo various difficulties at personal level.
Amy Chua makes a vague generalization by saying that Chinese mothers can get away with things that the western mothers cant. This is overrating the Chinese mothers and underestimating the western mothers. Various mothers have different potential and is consequently skeptical to consider all Chinese mothers as strong mothers. This is also another form of prejudice.
It’s a prejudiced view to assume that Asian Americans would be at the top of Ivy League universities since they are more academically talented than the Americans or Chinese. People should learn to segregate myths from facts rather than embracing archaic misconceptions that have no significance to the contemporary society. Parents should make sure that their children do not engage in acts that they find to be unjust or unreasonable. For instance, instead of using hours watching TV or playing computer games, the child should use that time doing something productive such as reading. However, it is unreasonable to assume that other mothers cannot raise their children with such a routine. Nevertheless, the parents should allow the children some degree of freedom.
The case of Zimmerman and Treyvon portrays how prejudice can cost us and the extent to which it can go. Zimmerman shot Treyvon martin out of the mere reason that he was black and to him all blacks are criminal. The blacks wanted justice to be done because they believed that one of their own was unfairly treated. On the other hand, the whites contend that Zimmerman is innocent since he only killed a black criminal in a bid to make the world a better place. Both the whites and blacks base their reasoning on race than facts of the case. Criminals find it hard to commit crimes in harsh weather simply because they perceive it to be the wrong time to undertake their illegal activities. This shows how people have developed their own beliefs that affect their perception and judgment of the world.
However, I concur with Malcolm’s idea that ethics and virtues can pass on from generation to generation. People can learn the values of persistence and patience from their parents. Personally, I grew up in an environment where most people were very hardworking spending most of their time at their places of work doing something constructive. I learnt this value and today, I find it hard to stay indolent. The value was integrated into me.
People erroneously judge others basing their reasoning on the previous knowledge that they have. For instance sagging trousers or tattooing the bodies are associated with criminals. Any person who observes such aspects of fashion is likely to be termed a criminal. This is an devastating behavior that one should desist from.
I agree with Theodore that stereotyping is inescapable in the current composite society. However, people should learn that stereotypes are wrong and derails societal development. Otherwise, if nothing is done to clear the stereotypes from the human mind, then more splits will dominate the society.
Works cited
Amy Chua. Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior. 2011. Print.
Patrick F. Bassett. The Model Minority? The Interplay among Myth, Stereotype and Reality. 2011. Print.
Theodore Dalrymple. Types of Stereotypes: Not all stereotypes are unreasonable National Review. 2013. Print.
