Are They Bad Guys?

In our daily life, we often have a mindset that is affected by a stereotype. We judge someone from his or her appearance, race, social status, or economical status. Sometimes, what we think is not true, and what we have judged on someone is not the truth. However, we still believe in our mindset. Actually, we live in a world which is full of stereotype. We can find stereotypes around us.
I am a Chinese girl who lives in Java Island. Since I was a child, I always thought that Ambon people are bad people. I thought that they are cruel person who kill their friends if they hate those friends. I thought that Ambon people are emotional people. I often saw on television that Ambon people are getting angry and they are burning houses, breaking public facilities, and blocking the streets. I felt afraid to Ambon people. Although my parents do not tell me to be afraid of them, I have the mindset by myself.
After I am in college, I meet so many friends from many different places; some of them are from Ambon. For the first time, I tried not to close with them. I was worried if they hurt me or even kill me. I always think about bad things if I am around them. Now, I know that they are not the worst people in the world. They are still human who have positive side and kindness inside their heart. I realize that not all of Ambon people are cruel. The Ambon people that I saw on television do not reflect all of Ambon people’s characters. Sometimes, there are some kindnesses that Ambon people have and I do not have it. Ambon people still love the peace and love.
Stereotype has change human’s mindsets. Stereotype has impact on our way if thinking. Stereotype divides people into some boxes. People will divide which groups are “good” and which groups are “bad” for their life. Stereotype puts people in boxes and they cannot go out of those boxes. It means that stereotype puts people in jail of human’s thoughts.
Now I can learn that I cannot judge people based on the stereotype. What I think is not similar with the real condition and situation. I must be neutral before I know the fact on the real life. I cannot judge some people in a group only because of the other’s acts. I must see the people based on his or her own characters, not based on where they are in the groups of human life.