Last week the mechanic said that my 2011 Jeep Liberty Limited with 130,000 miles needed some transmission work in the next month or two. This news coupled with the fact that my family grew by two 11 year-old foster boys and it seemed a new car was the way to go.

It just happens that my son is a car salesman. The car my wife and him found was a 2016 Honda Odyssey with 30,000 miles. Later at the Toyota dealership completing the paperwork, I asked my son; “What’s the biggest difference between the Honda and Toyota?” He replied with a straight face, “Ones a Honda and the other is a Toyota.” He has always been a …  😈  His sarcasm was profound and inspired this months post.

There are six car manufactures in the U.S.

  • Ford Motor Company.
  • General Motors.
  • Fiat/Chrysler Automobiles.
  • Honda Motor Company.
  • Toyota Motor Corporation.
  • Nissan Motor Company.
  • Volkswagen Group.

There are six ethnic groups in the U.S.

  • White  – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
  • Black or African-American refers to people from most parts of Africa.
  • Asian – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • American Indian or Alaska Native – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
  • Hispanic Americans –  A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

See where I’m going?

What Is Race?

Race is the word used to describe the physical characteristics of a person. These characteristics can include everything from skin color to eye color and facial structure to hair color. Think of this as the different trim packages on car. The cars are essentially the same, the only difference is how they look.

What Is Ethnicity?

Ethnicity, on the other hand, is the word used to describe the cultural identity of a person. These identities can include language, religion, nationality, ancestry, dress, and customs. Think of this as the different brand; one is a Honda and the other is a Toyota. The cars are essentially the same, the only difference is their origin.

Difference Between Race And Ethnicity

One example of the difference between these two terms is by examining people who share the same ethnicity. Two people can identify their ethnicity as American, yet their races may be black and white.

My point? Simple, the difference is in model: Male or Female. Maybe the difference is in the trim package (how we look): Wide, thin, dark, light, optional accessories, dress, etc.

What’s something all humans have in common regardless of ethnicity, nationality, creed, etc.?

We’re humans

That’s about all there is to know. We share the same anatomy, the same needs, and more importantly the same feelings. We’re all part of the same race. Meaning that none, “regardless of ethnicity, nationality, creed, sexual orientation, …” is superior to one another, we belong to the human race. We’re made of the same building blocks, we need the same nutrients to survive, and we are all equally vulnerable (to a certain extent).

We actually all come from the same place, and share hundreds of thousands of years of common history. We also share the same instincts. Not so long ago, we were all hunter gatherers. We all, one way or another, seek comfort and security. We all experience love and hatred, affection and repulsion, curiosity and indifference. This is a ⇒ Basic Truth

If you choose to focus on the subtle difference instead of seeing the massive similarity, you are missing out on the big picture.

If you choose to focus on the subtle difference to propel your hatred, you’re not a raciest, bigot or xenophobe … you’re an idiot.

 

-Reluctant Therapist