Judgment, Hypocrisy, and the lack of understanding

We are quick to judge in society. In many ways we can blame those that came before us, as it is programmed from a young age to judge. It’s quite the opposite of how we as a civilized society should function. We tear people down rather than build them up. Often with little or no thought as to what, or how our comments will make a person feel; everyone is going through something, and the added pressure, stress, or grief is destructive in so many different facets to an individual who might be struggling in ways that we cannot even fathom. When we gossip, or or talk negatively about another, not only does it add negativity it destroys our individual character.

Judgement; we all hate when we are judged o why do we do it? When others judge or label us based off of their preconceived notions or ideals on how we as individuals should behave, or what we should do with our lives. Yet each of us do the same thing that we find to be bothersome, irritating, hurtful, and rude. Is it something that we are unable to leave behind? Is it built into us? Or is it something we can leave behind? Are we able to move through life without passing judgment on others? Or are we unable to be forgiving, understanding, and flexible to those around us? Society has taught us that if you don’t function in the same way as others, or you are an individual that you must be working against the common goal. If you are different; you are weird, chastised for not conforming, when at the same time innovation and progress only come from originality and freethinking. So shouldn’t we celebrate each persons uniqueness and encourage individuality?

Religions preach acceptance, then practice intolerance. In the same breath that they say love thy neighbor, intolerance of those who don’t conform with the views are chastised and damned to hell. If you live differently, have a different belief in spirituality, or again don’t conform, then judgement is bestowed not only by those in the practice, but then by their supreme being. Hypocrisy at its finest. The Mormons who fled prosecution across the United States for their beliefs, chastise and defame the homosexuals. A country founded on the principle of separation of church and state, caught in the crosshairs or its inability to separate individual beliefs in religion for the greater good; with nations going to war, over petty insignificant differences, all exacerbated by the newS media; that takes information and spins it, twisting our perceptions of the events, by only giving a portion of the story, so as to be the first to release it, rather than waiting for events to unfold and the facts to be concrete; to apologize after the fact for falsely reporting or speculating incorrectly. Each subsection of society with its own norms and views, with some overlap; none willing to concede their opinions or principles.

Hypocrisy is the fuel of fools. Its currency befalls the mazes of our culture, almost as if we are blind to the facts that we as people claim one thing and display the opposite. Is it a moment where you flutter a way from oneself; or is it society grasping you and pulling you to meet its ideas? The book that says judge not lest ye be judged, is one that we preach, but are we able to understand fully the gravity of our actions? It appears that while we all hold others to ideals and expectations, we fail to look in the mirror and recognize our own shortfalls; and are all hypocrites, even if unintentionally.

This brings me to the lack of understanding. Something that everyone needs to be more of; we have no idea what others are going through on a daily basis. That girl you trashed for how she is dressed, might only have those clothes because she is on the street, and everything else was stolen. That boy you made fun of for being gay, could be contemplating suicide to escape the hate he gets from his peers. That woman you belittled for being slow, might have just lost her husband or child. We don’t know what the struggles others are facing, nor what they might be feeling. Rather than tear down, we should take the time to build up, get to know them. Then help them, refer back to Thumper the rabbit if you need assistance, or ask yourself how would that make me feel if that was done or said to me? If the answer is not good, or you hesitated then don’t say it.

The world is a cruel place, it’s not easy; but we as people can work to make it less difficult for each other. Stop and think before you chastise or tear down. Think about how you would feel, recognize that people wear masks to hide their pain. That they might be in hell, isolated, alone, and on the verge of ending it. Do the right thing and stop those from talking shit about people that aren’t present. With that, the man and his dog contemplate how they are going to make the world a better place for those who have it worse off. Glad to have people that care, and that make room and time for them. Looking forward to tomorrow, happy that we had today. Much love to those out there struggling, remember it does get better, and you got this. And if you don’t, let those around you help, and don’t forget to tell yourself you are awesome and amazing.