Courage

"Ones perception is dependant on the shoes one wears"

A very true statement that would be in one's best interest to observe before one should judge. As a matter of fact, we should avoid judging all together.

Reality check!!!

Everyday we judge ppl. We avoid those who smell when we pass them. If someone sounds too loud and we not used to it we step away. Conservatives look at liberals weirdly and liberals do the same. We cuss about Bush and Iraq and Fidel and Chavez and Osama. All because we have arrived at the conclusion that they are right or wrong. We categorize rightly or wrongly and the result of those determinations predict our actions.

Pedophyles always suggest that others don't understand and that they are doing nothing wrong. Maybe they really can't see the problem. I don't know. But I have already judged their sins and them. Wrong of me? I agree 100%. A closer to home example; taxi men in Jamaica drive like everyone else must understand that they have things to do and everyone else is in their way. We judge them and cuss them. Other taxi men understand their situation. Some agree some don't.

The beauty of free-will and individuality is that you can swing your vote on either side of the table in any situation. The difficulty is that if more disagree with your position than agree then you find yourself in an ostracisable position.

The other day I 'joined' the discussion about Abortion. It's not the first time for me and I have done some research on the topic because I have had to present on the topic. I've also had the experience of counselling persons seeking abortions or contemplating them. I spelled out their options because I thought that was the right thing to do. I gave friends money to procure abortions because I thought it was the right thing to do. I justified abortions because I felt it was better to decide before hand the outcome of a child born into this world and save them from a dreadful life..... despite the fact that I am not a fortune-teller and have no clue about the future.. not even my own. Why? Because I thought it was right.

I now realise that I can't do that anymore. You will do what you have to do but I can't live with myself knowing I suggested to you, made it possible for you, encouraged you to have an abortion. Can I still be your friend and give you moral support? I won't agree with your decision, I won't take you there, I won't lend you the money, I won't suggest where you can get the money. I can't help you do something that I think is wrong, but I can still see you as a human being ...... as my friend.... as someone I love. I hate the sin not the sinner. I understand why persons would agree with it. I understand why they don't agree with it. I'm not here to judge the person.

I'm not perfect. The persons I detest most in life are Rapists (pedophyles are children rapists)!! I cannot bring myself to even contemplate them as human beings. I suspect that I know a few. But until I know for sure, they are safe. They would make me become a vigilante. Now one of the issues brought up to justify abortion is the conception of a child as a result of rape. That question is always difficult for me. The moral high ground says forgive and let live. Human emotion says take him out and take out his child too. It doesn't help that I have friends who were raped.

What if I was faced with the situation, what advice would I offer? I'd keep my damn mouth shut. I'd not have the courage to voice my opinions and I'd let you decide on your own or with help from another person. I'd give you hugs and I'd help you take your meds afterwards. I'd reassure you through it all that God loves you and ask you to pray about it to make the right choice. At the end of the day, it's between you and God.

Am I a hippocrit? I believe so. And if I haven't show that today with the above then you can watch my pendulous gyrations as a I confuse emotions with matters of right and wrong.