They are raised in an atmosphere of negativity and hate that’s so pervasive they don’t even realize it’s a thing and that there are other options.

I come from a white catholic family and I lived in a properly rural area up through first grade. Like I lived in a trailer and my yard bordered a farmer’s corn field. And we knew the farmer because his land was nice for my dad to hunt deer.

The cynicism, persecution complex, and of course the casual racism & xenophobia aren’t something you are taught. They are just how the world works. It’s an assumed part of the culture and the social dynamic just like religion is.

That shit takes root deep in your neurons, and it takes conscious effort, compassion, and self-reflection to work your way out of it. And even then, some of the subconscious programming and visceral reactions persist and require a level of ongoing mindfulness about one’s right processes and behavior.