Sterotyping by liberals is still stereotyping

Black people are all unintelligent. White people are all uptight. Mexican people are all dirty.

Stereotypes are hurtful, dangerous, and illogical. I'm a well-educated, white female who has lived a very privileged and cushy life. However, as a vegan, I am a minority of sorts. For people who don't know any other vegans, what I do and say can to them become a representation of all vegans. If I'm rude, then "vegans are rude." If I am pushy, then "vegans are pushy." If you don't know many vegans, then the characteristics and actions of the one or two you meet are probably applied to all the rest.

It's human nature to stereotype in this way, but I think it's something we should resist. Yes, even us liberals.

You know the drill. We may not stereotype against gay people, black people, or illegal immigrants, but we'll readily take a swing at a southerner, won't we? I'm guilty of this myself. Generally, I don't mean harm by it; I'm just trying to get a laugh. But it's probably hurtful, and I probably shouldn't do it.

Not all black people are unintelligent. Not all white people are uptight. Not all Mexican people are dirty. And not all southerners are unintelligent. Not all republicans are greedy. Not all rural dwellers are ignorant.

Think about yourself. You have characteristics that place you in certain groups: Irish, Latino, short, southern, rich, urban, gay, Jewish, etc. Do you want to be judged based on generalizations of the groups you belong to? Do you want people to judge those groups based on what you do and say? I sure don't. Because if I'm having a rotten day, and I'm acting like a giant turd, I don't want to ruin the reputation of every other Caucasian, blue-eyed, brown-haired, married, young(ish), Mazda-driving, female vegan.