As I was thinking about what to write for the "best blog post ever" nothing really came to mind. So i went to NPR's web page and looked at the this I believe essays that people will write and submit to the page. I cam across one called "Looking at Life Through Another's Eyes". It was written by a man named Charles S. Johnson he was the first black president at the Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. This was an essay that cought my eye because of the book that I am reading now called Nineteen Minutes written by Jodi Picoult. In this book this question kept popping into my mind. Who-if anyone-has the right to judge someone else? As I was reading the essay that Johnson wrote, he talks about how you should not judge somone until you have been in their shoes, until you see what they see everyday. Here is a part of Johnson's essay.
Years ago, as a college boy in Richmond, Va., I had a job investigating needy applicants for Christmas baskets. This opportunity led me into amazing paths of discovery and awakening. It gave me a lasting conviction which became the core of all that I can recognize as a social philosophy. This was simply that no man can be justly judged until you've looked at the world through his eyes. It carried over to children classed as delinquents, to the impoverished tobacco workers of the city, and to men in prison. It carried over to the humble people who made up the families of the left side of the tracks.
When I read this I immedatly thought of To Kill A Mockingbird and how Harper Lee says many times in her writting that you shouldnt judge someone and howyou have to view things from their point of view. Keeping this quote in mind as I read my book I started to think of how the main charector felt. Nineteen Minutes talks about a school shooting in a small town called Sterling. One boy killed 10 people and injured many more all in nineteen minutes. The day after the shooting people looked down on the parents and on the friends and family of the boy. I started to think that I couldnt possibly imagine how it would feel to be that boy's family. But the sad thing is...I can.
Two years ago my dad went into the hospital. He was diagnosed with something that we know- or at least we think we do- goes to the "wrong" kindof people. Sorry I cant say what it is. But the thing is, it can happen to anyone. When people found out what my dad had, they started thinkg the worst kind of things about, not only my dad, but me and the reat of my family. When I would walk around my church all of these people would give me this dirty look like, "You are related to that man." AT MY CHURCH OF ALL PLACES! I couldnt belive it. It made me so mad. Then, finaly my dad went and talked to them about what happened and how he got what he has and people started acting somewhat normal again.
My point is that you cant judge people without knowing their full story. You shouldnt judge people at all. I know that it is hard and especially in our society today not to be judgmental. I will adment that I am judgmental too but I am just saying that we could all use some work in that department.
I hope that I was not to mean in my post, but we were supposed to make it our BEST POST EVER and I hope I did.
3 comments:
good post. I really agree. It's rough to be judged by people, friends or not. I had to deal with that a few years ago and it was really hard on me. Now, I've tried to take that experience, bad and all, and turn it for the better. It's made me think before I say anything about anyone and always give people bennefit of the doubt. I'm sorry all of that happened with people at church. You would think those would be the people that would understand those things and take you in for who you are. once again, nice post.
I really enjoyed reading your post... you've made a very valid point about something that we all need to be a bit more aware of. It seems that most people are quite prone to forming opinions without first thinking them through, or even questioning them somewhat (myself included). Hopefully there will come a day when we can accept all people without immediately jumping to conclusions. With regards to what your family has been through, I know how it feels to be judged, or to see a loved one judged, without real cause. Granted, my family by no means deals with the same sort of issue that yours does, but still - discrimination is discrimination. For us, it is more an issue of people in many areas of the country not being able to accept and treat equally those who are not "just like them" (as in, with a distinct accent and different customs, if you get my drift). But I digress. I wish you and your family the best, and hope that your father can find relief from whatever ails him (I meant that sincerely, not flippantly).
Peace and Love.
thank you :]
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