do we not bleed?

i was reminded of one of my favourite Shakespearean plays today. Hmm. Amazing how much of my ethical system, as far as i have one, has been, and continues to be, constructed by the books i read. Replace 'Jew' with any category of unjustly marginalised people, and voila! That is what i think of almost any kind of prejudice and discrimination.

It's been a long time. Almost ten years. i really ought to read it again and see if it's still the same play. i know for sure that i am not the same reader.

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........ He hath disgraced me, and
hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses,
mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my
bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine
enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge?


(Bill S. The Merchant of Venice, Act I Sc iii)
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