Sunday, November 11, 2007

On Judgment

One of my recently favorite bloggers, Grace, at The Wild Pomegranate, wrote a very “feel provoking” post on speaking out; judgment; and karma. It’s a wonderful post, so I encourage you to check it out for yourself.

I have my own opinions concerning judgment that I’ve decided to vent.

The negative rap surrounding judgment, is undeserving. I can be highly judgmental, but I consider that a positive thing. Judgment gives me the ability to distinguish between seeing something that is either right or wrong.

I know that seeing something as “right or wrong” goes against what many people feel as being, unfair and unkind to our fellow human beings; however, I beg to differ with that.

Now, I’m not talking about judging the way someone looks, or judging someone’s personality traits, or political or spiritual preferences. I’m talking about judging an act of blatant, obvious wrongness - and speaking out about it.

If I witness someone being abusive to an animal…I judge that to be wrong, because it is, and I will speak out vehemently about it.

If I witness someone being cruel to a child or an elderly person…I judge that to be wrong, because it is, and I will speak out vehemently about it.

If I hear someone ridiculing an individual who is handicapped…I judge that to be wrong, because it is, and I will speak out vehemently about it.

If I am creating negative karma for myself by harboring judgment against these actions as wrong…well then, so be it.

But to sit by and not speak out about these things, to me, is a total injustice.

And for those who believe that God is the only real judge…I believe that God sometimes speaks through our own voices.

I learned something a long time ago.

If we all have the freedom to create our own life in this world, there are a vast array of “intentions” being created. And there are many people out there creating a lot of shit.

So I damn well better be able to judge.

Amen.







Photo: Ali.K.