Essentially, it's a fear based on an unknown, an irrational fear. Irrational because it's targeted at EVERYTHING foreign. I can understand if a person has had a bad experience with another and fear that one person, but is everyone like that? Even odder is when there is no reason (the irrational part), fearing something only because it's different. "They don't eat the same food, that's weird." or "I don't understand what they are saying." - A few phrases used as justification for fear and hatred.
Lets look at this another way. Instead of being xenophobic, how about trying to be a bit more understanding? What? Try to understand someone or something different? Sure, why not? Isn't life all about exploring the unknown? How many television shows do we have focusing on that?
"Space, the final frontier. Our mission to explore this same old world. To seek out life exactly like us. To timidly stay at our own front door." Hmmm, not sure Star Trek would have survived if this were their goal. See the point? Not everyone is going to act, dress or eat the same way we are. There is nothing wrong with that, or anything to be frightened of. If you don't like the way they eat or dress, don't eat or dress like them. But you can still befriend them.
In the city I live, there are many people who are refugees from Myanmar. It would be easy to fear them and have nothing to do with them. They speak a different language and eat different foods. But I've befriended many of them. A few neighbours I have over frequently. They've taught me to make home-made egg rolls. Delicious! We watch movies together, laugh, joke and have a good time. One of my friends makes me laugh because she is pizza obsessed, meanwhile a few others have come over on Karaoke nights to sing. Sure, it can be difficult to understand them at time. But I've been learning to speak their language as they've been learning to speak English. Underneath it all, people are people. There is nothing to be afraid of. Yes, there are some bad people, but there are bad people in whatever culture we are from or there wouldn't be so many prisons and police forces around.
Some questions for discussion:
Do you feel underneath it all, people are the same?
Do you believe we should fear the unknown?
What are some unique foods you've eaten?
