My wife says to me, is there anything you haven't written about? I answer her with, sure, there are a number of subjects I haven't touched on. Now I admit I have covered a wide range of topics from the trivial, nostalgic nonsense of my past, to the hot button issues of today. Still I am aware that some things I am better off just not discussing. It bothers me somewhat but discretion is the better part of valor. And I also believe just because you can, doesn't mean you should. In this politically charged atmosphere of today your opinions, thoughts, or ideas are immediately attacked if in opposition to " standard " reasoning. That's something I have discovered about myself, I'm not standardized! I am comfortable talking about just about anything and everything. Well, that's not quite accurate. I do believe here are things best left to yourself, private moments, private thoughts that should only be shared with your God. Not everything need be exposed. I do struggle at times to differentiate between the two.
We hear constantly that we shouldn't judge anyone. The general feeling being that judgement is a bad thing. Truth is, judgement can be a positive thing as well. Not all judgement goes against the one being judged! If that were the case we wouldn't need the courts, lawyers or Judges. For that reason I do judge others, comparing them against my standards, and the standards of our society. If that judgement isn't favorable to you, it effects me. It will determine how I interact with you in the future. My thought is, if you fear judgement, you must have something to fear. That would be an indication that you are aware of something you have done, or are doing, that is wrong. But life isn't that simple is it? No, it certainly isn't. As with everything else in life it is a matter of risk and reward. How much are you willing to risk to obtain whatever reward you seek? Can you absorb the loss when it doesn't go your way? In short, can you be self sufficient, content with your choices, even when you are disappointed?
It is all a matter of attitude as far as I can tell. I have seen a shift in general attitude over the years. In the past people weren't as quick to condemn, but they were certainly quick to judge. And in that I see the shift. Now when we express our thoughts on another person, belief, or policy the condemnation comes first. Wasn't that way years back. I believe that is because the standards were well defined and accepted by society in general, unlike today where practically anything goes. Today people are a great deal more defensive. I see it more as fear, than bravado. With all the talk of bullying and inequality people are worried about being judged. If there are no standards however, you can't be judged. And that is the new thinking, the new attitude. I can do whatever I want! I can do that even while I impose that belief upon you. I'm tolerant because I allow you to do whatever you want, as long as you don't tell me I'm wrong. Now, that's tolerance. Really it's a form of forced acceptance. Conform or be condemned! Diversity is the keyword. I would agree that diversity is a great thing. Still if we wish to accomplish something, anything, singleness of purpose is the primary requirement. You can't have a diverse agenda and expect to accomplish a single goal. That's why we have standards in the first place. If you can't decide on the rules of the game, nobody wins. We can't have winners and losers anymore can we?
Well I wandered off a bit as I'm prone to do. I started out thinking about what I haven't written about and why. I don't write about personal things because, they're personal. At least what I consider to be personal, others feel differently about the same topics. It's a generational thing for the most part. Other things I haven't written about because I don't wish to be called a racist, although it has been hinted that I may be by some. I'd say I don't care, but I do care. I don't think anyone wants to be labeled in such a way. But it is one of those topics you aren't going to broach without receiving some condemnation. If you are not a member of that race, you can't talk about that race. That's the rule! It is also the reason the divide grows. No one wants to listen to the other. Even now its' a risky thing to even mention it. And I'm fairly certain the majority of you reading this are like minded and won't attack me. I have apparently alienated a number of folks by stating my opinion. I've had to change my judgement of their character. It's a difficult thing to do, simply because I have to admit I was wrong. Nobody enjoys being wrong, even when they are right.
Yes I judge peoples character as a means of determining the relationship I will have with that person. Yup, to put it simply, whether I like you or not. As a general rule, if you are cordial to me, I will be cordial to you. Another general rule I follow is being honest. I just have a habit of telling folks what I think. If you are doing something I feel is wrong, I will tell you. That in itself isn't a condemnation though, it's just my opinion. If you are doing something I agree with, I will tell you that. Doesn't mean I'm going to start doing it though. Again, it's just my opinion. And that' the funny thing, if I give you my opinion and I agree with you, most likely you will embrace me as a scholar and a friend, I'm a great guy. But, should my opinion differ from yours, and I refuse to change it, I'm a terrible person. The new attitude of acceptance and inclusiveness, as long as you don't judge. At least, don't admit to it.
We hear constantly that we shouldn't judge anyone. The general feeling being that judgement is a bad thing. Truth is, judgement can be a positive thing as well. Not all judgement goes against the one being judged! If that were the case we wouldn't need the courts, lawyers or Judges. For that reason I do judge others, comparing them against my standards, and the standards of our society. If that judgement isn't favorable to you, it effects me. It will determine how I interact with you in the future. My thought is, if you fear judgement, you must have something to fear. That would be an indication that you are aware of something you have done, or are doing, that is wrong. But life isn't that simple is it? No, it certainly isn't. As with everything else in life it is a matter of risk and reward. How much are you willing to risk to obtain whatever reward you seek? Can you absorb the loss when it doesn't go your way? In short, can you be self sufficient, content with your choices, even when you are disappointed?
It is all a matter of attitude as far as I can tell. I have seen a shift in general attitude over the years. In the past people weren't as quick to condemn, but they were certainly quick to judge. And in that I see the shift. Now when we express our thoughts on another person, belief, or policy the condemnation comes first. Wasn't that way years back. I believe that is because the standards were well defined and accepted by society in general, unlike today where practically anything goes. Today people are a great deal more defensive. I see it more as fear, than bravado. With all the talk of bullying and inequality people are worried about being judged. If there are no standards however, you can't be judged. And that is the new thinking, the new attitude. I can do whatever I want! I can do that even while I impose that belief upon you. I'm tolerant because I allow you to do whatever you want, as long as you don't tell me I'm wrong. Now, that's tolerance. Really it's a form of forced acceptance. Conform or be condemned! Diversity is the keyword. I would agree that diversity is a great thing. Still if we wish to accomplish something, anything, singleness of purpose is the primary requirement. You can't have a diverse agenda and expect to accomplish a single goal. That's why we have standards in the first place. If you can't decide on the rules of the game, nobody wins. We can't have winners and losers anymore can we?
Well I wandered off a bit as I'm prone to do. I started out thinking about what I haven't written about and why. I don't write about personal things because, they're personal. At least what I consider to be personal, others feel differently about the same topics. It's a generational thing for the most part. Other things I haven't written about because I don't wish to be called a racist, although it has been hinted that I may be by some. I'd say I don't care, but I do care. I don't think anyone wants to be labeled in such a way. But it is one of those topics you aren't going to broach without receiving some condemnation. If you are not a member of that race, you can't talk about that race. That's the rule! It is also the reason the divide grows. No one wants to listen to the other. Even now its' a risky thing to even mention it. And I'm fairly certain the majority of you reading this are like minded and won't attack me. I have apparently alienated a number of folks by stating my opinion. I've had to change my judgement of their character. It's a difficult thing to do, simply because I have to admit I was wrong. Nobody enjoys being wrong, even when they are right.
Yes I judge peoples character as a means of determining the relationship I will have with that person. Yup, to put it simply, whether I like you or not. As a general rule, if you are cordial to me, I will be cordial to you. Another general rule I follow is being honest. I just have a habit of telling folks what I think. If you are doing something I feel is wrong, I will tell you. That in itself isn't a condemnation though, it's just my opinion. If you are doing something I agree with, I will tell you that. Doesn't mean I'm going to start doing it though. Again, it's just my opinion. And that' the funny thing, if I give you my opinion and I agree with you, most likely you will embrace me as a scholar and a friend, I'm a great guy. But, should my opinion differ from yours, and I refuse to change it, I'm a terrible person. The new attitude of acceptance and inclusiveness, as long as you don't judge. At least, don't admit to it.
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