Evolution of Personal Beliefs

I have always believed that rigidity is the enemy of progress. When communities hold on to their beliefs and leave no room for new ideas, they set themselves up for failure. Personally, I believe that individuals need to adopt flexible belief systems. They should be willing to abandon their beliefs and adopt new ones that are more sensible and are supported by evidence. In the discussion below, I describe an incident where my beliefs were challenged.

Since childhood, I have always dismissed the African continent as a land that grapples with poverty and is war-torn. I believed that the continent was ravaged by disease and that its people had no hope. While personal prejudices were mostly responsible for this attitude, the information that I received from the media also played a role in shaping this perspective. I think that it is important for individuals to critically scrutinize information before accepting it as the truth. Recently, I had an encounter with an exchange student from Botswana. I had expected that this encounter would confirm my beliefs about Africa. As I interacted with the student, I was able to understand that the information that I had received does not offer a true reflection of the African people. I now understand that Africa has the warmest communities and that laughter is found in almost all African homes. I have also learnt that the African people are very resilient and positive. Despite the myriad of challenges that they face, they dare to smile and look forward to a better tomorrow. Thanks to my interaction with the exchange student, I now recognize the need to respect different cultures and to celebrate cultural diversity. The beauty of the human spirit lies in embracing differences and promoting oneness. I believe that I am now wiser and that I am able to exercise patience when examining information. Instead of coming to hasty conclusions, I carefully consult the facts. I would urge others to abandon their prejudices and warm up to those who may be different. This will allow us to create a global nation where warmth and friendship thrive.