Dr. Suess the Philosopher

I've had something on my mind for months now and I just can't seem to shake it, so I'm hoping that writing about it will help somewhat. The concept that has been plaguing me for so long is that of judging. I can't help but notice how good we are at judging other people. And by we, yes I mean members of the church, but I also mean we as in...everyone...as in mankind, humans, people. This is something I have noticed especially over the last few months as tensions have risen due to the upcoming election, the Affordable Care Act, the feminist movement, LGBTQ rights, etc. It seems as if there are politics everywhere these days. Don't get me wrong I LOVE talking politics. I love the debate, I love hearing about what other people think and how they came to their conclusions. I love the rush I feel when someone says something I don't agree with and I have to figure out in my mind why what they said has bothered me and how I really feel about the issue.

The problem I have been having is when we then make conclusions (i.e. judgements) about another person because their view is different than our own. Yes, I'm sure that some of these feeling are coming out because I am feeling somewhat judged because of the views that I have (which may or may not be true, it's just how I've been feeling). However, we don't only make judgements on those who have different views than we do, but also on those who are in different life circumstances, i.e. the poor, the rich, heterosexuals, homosexuals, "intellectuals", those who choose not to get a formal education, minorities, the list could go on, but I think the point has been made that we judge.

Yes, I know that we say that we shouldn't and we say that we don't, but is that as true as we would like to believe? I mean what do you think (speaking to my Mormon readers) when you see a woman walk by wearing a tank-top and mid-thigh shorts? Do you think "she looks like a nice lady" or do you think "she is immodest"? I feel like by only noticing (or at least first noticing) her wardrobe we are automatically putting her into a category of "people who dress immodesty" and therefore are not as 'enlightened' as I am or not as righteous as I am or are whores (yes someone said that to me once, which is why I included it) or I need to avert my husbands eyes because he obviously is too 'weak' to handle seeing a women in a tank-top or whatever it is that we think about them because they are "immodest." I am not trying to make people feel guilty or point out specifics, all I am saying is is that really what Christ would do?

Would He really look at that woman and categorize her simply because of her wardrobe? Do her clothing choices mean that she may have different values/beliefs then you do, maybe, but does that make her less worthy of your friendship or courtesy or whatever? Would you treat her differently or think about her differently if she were wearing capris and a t-shirt? If so, then we are in fact judging her and I honestly don't think that is what Jesus would do.

Now it would be easy for me to make up another example of someone on food stamps, or someone who makes $1 million + per year, or a gay person, or a republican, or whatever. The point is that we really need to cool it. We generally don't know the people we are judging. We don't know what their life is like or what they really believe or feel. If we do actually know them, we can't possibly know everything about their circumstances or their feelings. I know that the scriptures talk about 'righteous judgement', but I'm not sure I am 'righteous' enough to be judging anyone and chances are unless you are Jesus you're probably not either.

Jackson and I checked out a book from the library the other day by Dr. Seuss entitled Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? I am in love with this book. I love everything about it. I love its illustrations, its silliness and funny words, and obviously its message. It starts out with this little boy who is retelling a song/story that was told to him by an old man. Here are a few lines:

When you think things are bad, when you feel sour and blue, when you start to get mad...you should do what I do!
Just tell yourself, Duckie, you're really quite lucky! Some people are much more...oh, ever so muchly much-much more unlucky than you!
....
It's a troublesome world. All the people who're in it are troubled with troubles almost every minute. You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you're lucky you're not!
....
Think they work you too hard...? Think of poor Ali Sard! He has to mow grass in his uncle's back yard and it's quick-growing grass and it grows as he mows it. The faster he mows it, the faster he grows it. And all that his stingy old uncle will pay for his shoving that mower around in that hay is the piffulous pay of two Dooklas a day. And Ali can't live on such piffulous pay!
....
Thank goodness for all of the things you are not! Thank goodness you're not something someone forgot, and left all alone in some punkerish place like a rusty tin coat hanger hanging in space.
That's why I say, "Duckie! Don't grumble! Don't stew! Some critters are much-much, oh, ever so much-much, so muchly much-much more unlucky than you!"

Obviously I left out a substantial amount of the book, but you probably get the picture. We don't have any right to judge anyone for any reason. "Jesus said 'love everyone', treat them kindly too."

I hope that I am not coming across as if I have perfected the art of not judging, because I certainly haven't. I think this is part of the reason why this has been on my mind so much as I try to figure out how to manage without categorizing people. I think our brains are hardwired to make schemas and put things into their places in our minds, but I really think we do people a serious disservice when we do this, including ourselves.

Just food for thought.