This small, seemingly insignificant choice revealed something bigger—how much our habits and preferences are influenced by our past experiences, environment, and the people around us. I found myself wondering why I felt so strongly about triangles versus rectangles! It’s amazing how these small preferences can reveal so much about our backgrounds.
This brings us to something I like to call sandwich ideology. Believe it or not, there’s actually research on how sandwich-cutting affects taste, texture, and even enjoyment. But the deeper takeaway here is that even small choices can be shaped by our past experiences and the people around us.
Now, let’s connect this to the real world. Just like with sandwiches, we all have perspectives—our ‘sandwich ideologies’—that shape how we view people, decisions, and even rules. These perspectives are lenses we use to interpret the world around us, including community relationships and how we approach situations in our personal and professional lives. And in this class, we’ll look at how different perspectives can influence the relationship between law enforcement and various communities.
As we go forward, I want you to keep this ‘sandwich test’ in mind. It’s a reminder that our preferences, even simple ones, don’t come out of nowhere. They’re shaped by who we are, where we come from, and who’s influenced us along the way. By understanding our own ‘sandwich ideologies,’ we can start to see how others’ perspectives—no matter how different—are also valid and shaped by unique experiences.
So, next time you make a sandwich, remember: it’s more than just lunch. It’s a lens into who you are, and maybe, a small step toward understanding others.”