What I like about that is that Nev is open about his own homophobia when he was younger. Some people seem to think that they can't mention that they were homophobic, racist, sexist whatever when they were younger or ignorant of other ways of living. I think that, although it is nothing to be proud of, it is not a damning to admit it if you have matured. Although you will always regret bigotry and prejudice and, especially, the targets of such things, I am not even sure that 'shame' is something to feel (although all credit to Nev for saying that). Racism, homophobia, sexism are the results of a combination of three things - ignorance, hatred and fear. To be fair, ignorance is no excuse for sexism. However, growing up in a place where, not only were there no people from other cultures or openly gay people, but the surrounding culture was openly homophobic and racist, you haven't got much of a chance. However, if, upon maturing and experiencing more of the world, you still hold these views, you are just a bigot. I always say the example that if you use, say, "pikey" in complete ignorance, you are just using racist language; if you insist on still using it after being enlightened on its offence, you are a racist. Nev would, I expect, have grown up in a much more blinkered ignorant era than I did and, perhaps, a more bigoted area.
In the last couple of decades, I think that this has changed. The world has become much smaller and much more available. Children, especially, are more knowledgeable of the world around them. That is one of the reasons why they are, in my experience, far more open-minded and accepting of difference in others than, certainly, we were. Ignorance is becoming less of a viable excuse which just leaves hatred and fear which, obviously, are being exploited greatly presently by Trump, UKIP etc.
In the last couple of decades, I think that this has changed. The world has become much smaller and much more available. Children, especially, are more knowledgeable of the world around them. That is one of the reasons why they are, in my experience, far more open-minded and accepting of difference in others than, certainly, we were. Ignorance is becoming less of a viable excuse which just leaves hatred and fear which, obviously, are being exploited greatly presently by Trump, UKIP etc.
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