I recently went to a friend’s presentation about Tajikistan and was super excited to hear her speak. Not only do I think the world of her, but she’s extremely intelligent and well-traveled.

That’s why I was rather shocked to hear her speak about her experiences the way she did. Instead of using her presentation as an opportunity to open the audience’s mind, she chose to emphasize all the stereotypes of ex-Soviet Union countries. These countries are poor, strange, ruled by a dictator, full of corrupted elites and an uneducated population.

I left stunned with my mind racing.

How many times have I experienced the belittling of another country’s culture, people, etc.?

My first memory was when a classmate told me to go back to my motherland and called me a Nazi. I was SIX YEARS OLD. <~ This is the problem. A six year old didn’t actually know what he was talking about, but simply regergitated what he heard from somewhere else.

Being called a Nazi throughout my childhood led me to educate the people around me about Germany pre-, during and post-WWII. This expanded to other nationalities, cultures, subcultures, minorities and anyone or any place that’s being stereotyped.

It’s important to speak up and educate those around you. Sometimes its uncomfortable, but it’s always worth it.

Stereotypes are damaging and close off people’s minds to the many, many, many overwhelmingly positive contributions that people that aren’t like you can bring to your life.

Yes, Germans have a dark past with Nazis in it, but this is one side of the story and people. It’s not the whole story. As everyone knows, the world isn’t black and white…and neither is any situation.

Question yourself and those stereotypes you hold in your mind. Are they limiting your thinking? If they’re limiting one area of your thinking, then they’re most likely limiting your creativity as well.

Push those boundaries peeps!!

XOXO von Annika