At its core, most bias is assuming the inherent immorality of another. “The poor are lazy, or the rich are greedy. City people are violent, or country people are ignorant. This ethnicity is proud while that ethnicity is stubborn, or cheap or rude or manipulative.”

The tendency to more harshly judge our neighbor who is superficially different or approaches life in a different pattern by a sharper ethical standard is unfortunately nearly universal. Those guys are idiots while we have figured all out.

When faced with our own shortcomings, we know our own reasons and justifications for our mistakes, so we can be forgiven, while the other is left without cause and therefore intentionally wicked and so deserving of the harshest penalty. Our own struggle and pain hurts worse than another’s.

The best solution for combating bias is exposure, inclusion and temporary suspension of judgements. Spend some time on the other side of the fence. Read a book, share a meal, or do something to see the world from the other’s perspective. If we are to survive on this planet, we have to do better at getting along.