A few days ago I saw a small flock of pigeons flying beside the road. All the pigeons were the same standard pigeon color, except for one. He was light brown with white wings-- beautiful, for a pigeon.
The different pigeon was still part of the flock. He wanted to belong. The others were fine with him belonging. Because he wanted to belong to the flock he didn't make an issue of his difference. He didn't demand special treatment. He didn't demand his own "space" because he was different. He didn't segregate himself.
The others didn't make an issue, either. They weren't trying to drive him away or leave him behind. It didn't seem as if any pigeon noticed any difference.
They were all just pigeons going about their pigeony business.
Pigeons have an advantage over humans in at least one area. They don't have religion (including of the political kind) to artificially divide them. Because of this advantage, they don't come to believe that any pigeon which is capable of pigeoning is somehow a lesser pigeon. They don't believe any other pigeon owes them anything or should be responsible for them. They all find their own food. No pigeon feels guilt because of it's color or pattern.
Yes, a different pigeon may attract predators. That's just nature. If it happens, it sucks for that pigeon, but it's not the other pigeons' fault.
There is still some safety in numbers, even if you're different, as long as you don't single yourself out and turn the flock against you.
I'll fly beside you as your equal, as long as you don't turn into something else and try to become predatory.
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Kill all the pigeons because they crap all over everything and you can't reason with them.
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