Reality is Always More Complex than Stereotypes

[ChlcagosOwnTyrone]

I think most people (including me) have stereotypes about various things. But reality is always far more complex than stereotypes. Example: many Americans, to the extent that they would even think of the old Japanese Samurai, probably picture them as "bloodthirsty killers" who we would consider almost barbaric. And yet, as with all things, the reality was far different. Poetry meant as much to a Samurai as his two swords. In addition, a Samurai's home was far cleaner than 99% of the homes in America...you could not even wear shoes in the home of a Samurai! It was also far from uncommon for a Samurai to have a Zen garden. Also, the book of Bushido...the Samurai code of honor...is very strict in regards to various things that a true "barbarian" would not even think about. And by the way...when Europeans first came to Japan, the Samurai considered THEM barbarians because they stunk and would not even take baths!

[notca]

Some stereotyping is based on fact.