A Stereotype
A stereotype is a generalization about a person or group of people without regard to individual differences. Even seemingly positive stereotypes that link a person or group to a positive trait can have negative consequences. Prejudice is prejudging or making a decision about a person or group of people without sufficient knowledge. Prejudicial thinking is frequently based on stereotypes. Discrimination is the denial of equal treatment (by individuals or institutions) in many arenas, including employment, education, housing, banking and political rights. Discrimination is an action that can follow prejudicial thinking. Stereotypes lead to prejudice, and prejudice leads to discrimination. Too often discrimination reinforces stereotypes, and the entire cycle is repeated. Our challenge is to break the cycle.
Matthew Wayne Shepard was born on December 1, 1976 in Casper, Wyoming. He was the oldest son of Judy Peck Shepard and Dennis Shepard. Shortly after midnight on October 6, 1998, two other young men took Matthew from a bar to a remote field about a mile outside of Laramie. Once there, these men took him out to a split-rail fence, mercilessly beat him with a pistol, tortured him, then tied him up onto the fence, and left him for dead. All the while he begged for his life. He was found late the next day at 6:22 p.m. by a two bikers, some 18 hours after the brutal attack. When the bikers first saw Matthew tied to the fence, they thought that what they saw a scarecrow, but realized that it was a person.
While Matthew lay dying in hospital, just a few miles away, a group of students from Colorado State University thought it would be funny to ride atop a homecoming float that featured a scarecrow figure designed to resemble Matthew's battered body. The figure was wearing a sign that said, "I'm gay." An obscene message was painted across the back of the scarecrow's shirt. It was supposed to be a joke. Matthew remained in a coma until Monday, October 12, when he died at 12:53 a.m. with his family at his bedside. Hospital officials said Matthew had a fracture from behind his head to just in front of his right ear and a massive brain stem injury which affected his vital signs, including his heart beat, body temperature and other involuntary functions. There were also approximately a dozen small lacerations around his head, face and neck. He was so badly injured in the attack that doctors were unable to operate. He never regained consciousness after being found, and remained on full life support.
This brings me to the heart of what I am trying to debate; what exactly causes a human being to act of this nature? I believe that how we were raised is directly responsible for the type of person we are today. I have asked a number of my friends and coworkers about what they think is main influence upon these acts, and 99.9% of those people either claimed it to [next page]