Why Are Prejudice And Discrimination Behaviors Unethical?

To quote the definition of the word "ethic" from one of the Webster's dictionaries: "A system of moral standards or values". Therefore, to behave in an unethical manner would be the opposite...i.e., to be immoral. Prejudice, bias against, and discrimination of a differing group has long been with the human race. It is often caused by a fear of those that appear strange to us, and that is called "xenophobia", or the dictionary definition of that word is: "Fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything foreign or strange."

But just because something has been with humans since the dawn of time, does not mean that we can not learn to become moral, and to learn to value people of other cultures and customs. We do not have to believe the same way as others do, to value their right to choose what they believe.

Behaviors that show prejudice and discrimination are usually intended to harm another person or group of people. It may be done in hopes that the people will go away, and no longer create a feeling of being uncomfortable for those of the larger group. In earlier periods of time, many groups could live their lives only with others who believed and thought as they did, and never have to find a way to live along side those that were "strange", or unlike themselves. It is very hard to find a place in this world to live that way anymore.  

If you follow the world wide news, it is obvious that even today, many groups of people believe in "ethnic cleansing". They want to rid themselves of people who are different from themselves. This is unethical, because it shows a lack of moral standards and values for those that are different from ourselves. Many of us in the world hope that mankind has progressed through the centuries and millennia of time to learn to try to understand others and live in the same communities.

As individuals, we have to learn what is right and what is wrong. We may have a different religion than our next door neighbor. Therefore, we can choose the different things that we believe in, and have to 'discriminate' the things that are right and wrong. But we do not have to hurt others that do not believe the same things that we do. If we choose to have a moral standard for ourselves, then we must demonstrate that through the way we value others around us.