The Perception of Bias

Get Outlook for Android From: John Ames Birch Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 11:56:17 AM To: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>; Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca <Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca>; dujarric@un.org <dujarric@un.org>; Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca <Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca>; jedmiston@nationalpost.com <jedmiston@nationalpost.com>; jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca <jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca>; accredit@gov.ru <accredit@gov.ru>; actso@naacpnet.org <actso@naacpnet.org>; ASKUS <ASKUS@novascotia.ca>; Blanchet, Yves-François - Député <Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca>; beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr <beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr>; Blanchet, Yves-François - Député <Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca>; contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>; correspondence@council.nyc.gov <correspondence@council.nyc.gov>; contactus@newfoundlandlabrador.com <contactus@newfoundlandlabrador.com>; ctvottawa@ctv.ca <ctvottawa@ctv.ca>; doug.fordco@pc.ola.org <doug.fordco@pc.ola.org>; dan@jpost.com <dan@jpost.com>; david.penberthy@news.com.au <david.penberthy@news.com.au>; education@nasa.gov <education@nasa.gov>; English@mail.gov.cn <English@mail.gov.cn>; edpubs@edpubs.ed.gov <edpubs@edpubs.ed.gov>; edumitru@amnesty.ca <edumitru@amnesty.ca>; Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca <Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca>; info@bnn.ca <info@bnn.ca>; letters@theaustralian.com.au <letters@theaustralian.com.au>; letters@jpost.com <letters@jpost.com>; letters@lasvegassun.com <letters@lasvegassun.com>; media@gatesfoundation.org <media@gatesfoundation.org>; news@skynews.com <news@skynews.com>; nytnews@nytimes.com <nytnews@nytimes.com>; news@thelocal.se <news@thelocal.se>; News@KelownaNow.com <News@KelownaNow.com>; newsonline@ctv.ca <newsonline@ctv.ca>; online@theaustralian.com.au <online@theaustralian.com.au>; GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca> Subject: The Perception of Bias (Opinion) Hey Everyone, Bias, the predetermination about a person, place or thing without the knowledge or wisdom to make that determination. Bias propagates everything about our current society whether we realize it or not. Every day we are either architects of bias, victims of it or oblivious to its impact. From our daily interactions, sports, television, music, laws and even our governments. Each time we judge another, make assumptions or act against our true inner natures, we create or enhance bias. We have all heard about another's ideas on multiple subjects via news reports, movies, music or daily conversations. Many of us even were raised with our parent's bias without even realizing it. Bias itself can be anything that is assumed. From sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia or religious phobias. At the heart of each of these lies bias and perception. Perception is really expectation and judgement in disguise. At times our perception is influenced by a multitude of factors. From birth we are bombarded with other people's perceptions that influence and shape our perceptions of this world. Each viewpoint like a puzzle piece as we learn and yearn to complete that picture. This picture, our perception is really our understanding and comprehension of what makes up our world. Bias is quiet, especially when learned so its therefore hard to understand it, let alone recognize it. Bias is also blinding, many of the biases that we hold go unnoticed as we live our lives. We are blind to them as we stumble through our world, oblivious to the harm they can cause. This is why it's so important that we recognize and challenge that bias whenever and wherever we encounter it. This not only serves to edify the holder of such bias but also helps to reform or even evolve our society at the same time. Within these moments of reform, we cause and evolution of our society by challenging long held assumptions and introducing new points of view. Really, in fact, society is just a consensus of perceptions. These moments where we come together to define a generation are powerful moments in space and time. These moments can either serve to elevate our society or diminish us. It is within these moments where we come to understand not only the path we took to get to where we are now but also the paths open to us moving forward. A moment can change everything, over our history these collections of moments helped to break chains and bondage, create cities and movements, propelled us deep into the unknown and lit our way out of our dark moments. History is really a collection of these moments, both light and dark, entangled together through space and time. It is when our darkest moments eclipse our light do we diminish ourselves as a people. We bring down the definition of the human race when we allow darkness over light. There however is always hope, during our darkest moments shining moments of spacetime arose to push back against those dark nights. These institutions of humanity pushed passed personal, institutional and societal bias and stood firm. Their courage, their sacrifices helped to carry us through those dark nights of our humanity to the dawning of a new day. This is why it's so important to stand against bias in all corners of our world. As Martin Luther King Jr once said "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". In times of darkness and uncertainty as we find ourselves in now, we must remember that within each and every one lies an ember of a new dawn. It is not only our right but our responsibility to call the light when darkness rises. Every one of us throughout our lives has felt powerless. We mistakenly think that one person cannot change the world. It is in these moments of uncertainty that we surrender our power. When we question our power and possibility, we become powerless. Do not give in to indecision, stand firm in your power and become indomitable. Do not allow your power to be taken or cheapened. Each of us are a nation of thought, speech and action, we are each of us, legion. When we stand together for one another as one, we create our own power. Moments when we stand together, we define our human unity, our humanity. These moments of kindness define us more than any singular act could ever achieve. These are the moments that we set aside bias or perception and simply act for all of us. Every great moment in our history has been defined by these acts of humanity. These moments when we remind ourselves and one another that we are not beholden to bias. Remember who you are, remember who we are. Live in the moment, live without bias and live in love. Keep Dreaming, Keep Loving, Keep Going. Stay Safe, Stay Sanitized and Stay Supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2