This chapter's exercise is about doing some personal reflection. There are no right or wrong answers here, instead this is an opportunity for you to take some time and think about your ethical values and beliefs.
A letter to the past (10 mins.)
This exercise asks you to explore what it would take to change your mind about something important.
Imagine someone from the past who held views characteristic of that time. Also imagine, for the sake of the exercise, that this person is not too different from you - perhaps you would have been friends. Unfortunately, many people in the past were complicit in horrible things, such as slavery, sexism, racism, and homophobia, which were even more prevalent in the past than they are now. And, sadly, this historical counterpart is also complicit in some moral tragedy common to their time, perhaps not out of malevolence or ill-will, but merely through indifference or ignorance.
This exercise is to write a short letter to this historical friend arguing that they should care about a specific group that your present self values. Imagine that they are complicit in owning slaves, or in the oppression of women, people of other races, or sexual minorities.
For the sake of this exercise, imagine your historical counterpart is not malevolent or selfish, they think they are living a normal moral life, but are unaware of where they are going wrong. What could you say to them to make them realize that they’re doing wrong? What evidence are they overlooking that allows them to hold their discriminatory views? You might want to write a few paragraphs or just bullet points, and spend time reflecting on what you write.
Dear Atit,
hope you are doing well with your life. i think its long since we talked to each other.its a news from your town which reminded me of you and feeling good to connect with you once again.
today i was going through a news of an unwelcome and unwarranted event in which some people from your town harassed few individuals just because they belong to sexual minority.
and the worst thing is that whole incident happened in a marketplace and at its peak hours. still there was not a single resistance in favour of the victims. people of all ages,men and women, of all religions,sects, cults,status,backgrounds were present and witnessed the incident.
you may wonder why you whom i want to share the incident?
because i found you quite sensible and reasonable on the issues of equality and justice.I still remember the protest against college authorities not conducting a majority of events for women in the annual sports meet.
you were also an active participant for that protest.that made me think you an reasonable and just person.
i am sure you differ in opinion that sextual minorities are not any different than the rest in any of the normal societal characteristics,inttellect,behaviour,apearence.they also follow the same physiological and biological processes every other humans do.except they cant follow the same reproduction process which a normal person do.
because differ in some aspects of biological or sexual orientation which is by no means their own choice or the choice of anyone else relate to them.
for some this sort of orientation is a kind of imperfection. and even if we agree not to differ imperfection is very common in all spheres of life and nature around the earth.to be very true imperfection is rule of nature.
most importantly these imperfections has nothing to do with treating such minorities with discrimination,criminalizing their sexual act or selection of life partners etc. those are very private business and does not any harm to anyone.
most of your society has silently accepted the myths and stigmas attached to these minority of people who dont even dare to esquire about their rights and why they are discriminated upon, what is their fault and how they can get the freedom to live a life of their choice?
i am very concerned about the thought of people like you on the issue. who i think has the power to move the society to a level where at least such matters can be discussed and the voice of the victims will also be heard.