guilty

As we have discussed ethnocentrism in our class, I remembered two holy verses from the holy bible. Its' from Gen 1:26-27 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
I believe in that statement.We are made according to His own image and likeness (isn't that amazing?);therefore making us beautiful and definitely not the least of all creatures. And because of that belief,everyone must be treated equally,and no one has the right to feel superior,except from Him,Our Lord, Our Creator.
Ethnocentrism proves that life goes the other way around.Others feel superior by praising themselves and criticizing others.The superior group credits themselves as the important one,which results in formulating another group;the "outcast","the black",or the "dull ones"depending on their situation and differences.
Its' alarming to know that ethnocentrism's definition (the tendency to believe that one's ethnic or cultural group is centrally important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to one's own)does not completely state the scope of ethnocentrism's impact in our daily life.Ethnocentrism is not just about racial discrimination,not only about separating the whites from the blacks,the yellows from the red,or even the Cebuanos from the Ilonggos.Ethnocentrism is also manifested everytime we choose our friends and letting someone to play as the outcast,everytime we admire only the physical attributes of a person,everytime we judge someone as a criminal due to his looks,or everytime we would like to lead  coz'we think were the smartest,everytime we tend to greet only our teachers and not the school's janitors,and everytime we are powered by over-confidence.All of these things are not healthy deeds for our souls because it only promotes selfishness,crab mentality,vanity,pride and being self-centered which do nothing but ruin the relationships that must be flourished and nourished with God's grace.Ethnocentrism might be a new word to my ears,but not to my eyes,as I've witnessed its' existence and has proven myself guilty of it at some point in my life;but that's it,I don't want to be an ethnocentric individual once again!Each and everyone must belong man!You must do your share.