I think there is always some kind of discrimination. In my rural area growing up, everyone was white, but some were poor and that poverty was obvious and it lead to being ostracized and discriminated against (maybe it is a function of the human psyche - or western psyche - to have to compete to somehow feel better about oneself). It is sad however that we cannot see that I believe we "inter-are" but if I really believed that would I have felt the sharp pain of being ostracized? I don't know.
I also think belief in a higher power is important for resilience. Or maybe just being able to see that there are things that happen in the world that were worse than what happened to me… For example when I was growing up, I was firmly convinced that God did not want me to die, that I was sent that suffering in order to develop a passion and compassion for those who have been so deeply wounded. I also survived by seeing children from Ethiopia on TV who were starving and their bellies were sticking out with flies all about their tiny faces and I would feel such compassion and empathy. I would hear of children traded by their parents for drugs and would feel so heart broken while at the same time grateful that that at least was not happening to me.
I guess I have to accept that without the suffering how can we understand what is goodness. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make ACEs disappear. I would even give my life if I could do this, but alas that is not the case. Everything worth accomplishing is worth fighting for. I do get deeply saddened though when I cannot seem to get people to understand to me what is so obvious -- children are beautiful --- children should be loved and protected and valued and not demeaned. I am sure that most of those who aren't willing to listen to and join ACEs work don't want to see children suffering or in pain but yet still they can look with a "blind eye" and not be impacted by the suffering. I cannot understand this because when I see a child hurt -- when I am working, for example as a doctor, I do what I can to make it better (like resuscitation of a newborn)--- but when I am by myself and have time to contemplate… I cry for their suffering…...