Different Doesn’t Mean Inferior

 

It’s natural to see things from our own viewpoint. Sometimes, it’s from a physical perspective. For instance, a tall person cleaning may see a gathering of dust on an upper shelf while a short person, unable to see that high up, would perhaps only notice the dust between a microwave and a counter top. It’s the same with our views from a social perspective. We see differences in the looks, behaviour, and beliefs of the people all around us.

 

 

This is beneficial, it helps us surround ourselves with people similar to us, particularly those who share our core values, hobbies, life experiences, and so on. However, when we notice others are different from us, this does not give us the right to judge them as inferior, less valuable, or someone we must ostracise purely on the basis of those differences.

We have no right to judge others at all unless, and here lies the crux of the matter, they, personally, have committed a crime against us or society, or their behaviour impacts on us directly.

Too many of us think it is our right to judge those that don’t conform to our standards, whatever they are. We should all remember how we live is not always our choice, and make allowances for others. After all, wouldn’t we  want those same ‘different’ individuals to make allowances for our beliefs, looks, and sometimes odd behaviour?