Prejudices

Throughout the trip one of the most surprising discoveries I encountered was the distrust and prejudice that exists.

In Western Europe people questioned my sanity for wanting to ride through Islamic countries like Iran and Pakistan. In Hungry I was apparently naïve for refusing to buy a gun for protection against the ‘criminals’ in Romania. Romanians were adamant I would be kidnapped by the mafia in Bulgaria. In Turkey people warned me about ‘evil’ Kurds, their fellow countrymen, in the east. In Iran there was a constant drone of misgivings towards the West and especially the US. In Pakistan the hatred towards India was unnerving. In India the suspicion of Pakistan brought a final chapter to a trip of sad prejudices.

Distrust, no matter how it originates, I find difficult to accept. What especially saddens me is how all too often labels, whether nationality, religion, colour or political, create barriers between people. It is painful having to repeatedly condemn prejudices which have arisen from wrong information or misunderstandings. I strive to relate to every person as an individual outside of a stereotyped group which enables me to treat them impartially. Innocent until proven guilty.

However, there were instances when I also struggled with my beliefs. After some unpleasant experiences with Turkish immigrants while living in Spain, I had to confront my resulting prejudices. I repeatedly reminded myself that no race should be condemned by the actions of a few but I still found myself guarded. Only after incessant kindliness did I completely relax and realise how foolish I had been for harbouring such reservations.