Monday; February 6

Have you noticed how easy it is to be prejudiced? Have you also noticed how futile prejudice is?

Now before we move on, let me describe prejudice. Prejudice is believing that someone has a particular quality based on a shallow observation. On the surface, this is absurd and it becomes less and less true the deeper dig. In fact, not only is it unproductive, it is also counterproductive. When someone accuses us of an action or a belief just because we belong to a larger group – and we don’t hold those beliefs – we feel justified in dismissing anything they say. Even if they have some valid points, we can blanketly dismiss them because we feel wrongfully accused.

I am not saying that we shouldn’t hold people accountable for the decisions they make and the beliefs they hold; however, we must do so based upon the individual rather than the group to which we have assigned them. We must measure people by what they personally profess, not paint them with a broad brush of bias. Whether they are male or female; protester or police; legislator or social advocate; Republican or Democrat; black, white, Asian or Hispanic – they are people first and foremost. Yes, people should be held accountable for what they do; but let’s make our decisions on one person at a time.

Let’s pay attention to the choices that are made around us, but let’s not issue blanket judgement based on superficial or general factors. Not only will it help us pay closer attention to motives, it will also help us maintain wisdom.

Think About It! 

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