by Jishi Santos

Created on: January 23, 2009   Last Updated: January 05, 2012

The best way to peace is to accept the world around you and those in it. Jesus even said love your enemies; maybe he was thinking that by example, we can change the world. It is true that the best teaching is by example, and the example to show in this day and age would be one of acceptance of all races, creeds, religious beliefs and individual thought, with one proviso -  that the differences led to wholesome outcomes and quality of living.

The first rule we would have to follow would be no judgment of others and their misfortunes. I think it is perfectly okay to judge those who perpetrate unbelievable acts against fellow human beings, and I am a believer in 'an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth.' So it should the death penalty for those who continually go down these evil paths. They say you can't tell whats in a book by it's cover, and the same goes for human beings.

I learned this after over a decade's work with the blind, autistic and severely physically handicapped. Some of the most unfortunate physical deformities housed a heart of gold inside, and by exploring that, there was no superficial initial judgment and casting out of society. In some African countries, if you are born with a deformity or defect, you are judged as abnormal, and cast out of the village. If a bit more foresight and less superstition was used here, a loving village atmosphere of caring could change these lives.

Some of my most embarrassing moments have come after I wrongly judged someone on first appearance, and they turned out to be more compassionate than me. A lot of small talk arises from judgment of others, and you've only to listen to small town gossip to see that people, who maybe are insecure themselves, thrive on it. In a weird sort of way, people build themselves up by judgment of others and the way they look or their misfortune, and I have been guilty of this myself.

When I have analysed the times I have done this, commenting on the television, it is because I am not feeling calm and accepting at that time. Detachment is probably the best policy in this case, for your judgments probably bore others who have passed this phase. Well I know mine are just phases, but if serious judgment has set in, then we will not learn from others different from ourselves.

Let me give you an example. Recently I took a taxi ride into unfamiliar territory as far as the taxi driver was concerned. I asked him to pull into a garage and I would ask directions. There was another cab pulled up with a driver from Kenya inside, so I told my lost taxi driver I would go with him and he said, "Oh he's black, he wont know". Well, he did know and he was a real gentleman.

For too long, America has judged the black man in the same way, and now they find themselves with a President who does know, and he is black. Hopefully Obama's time at the helm will promote a more accepting attitude towards others.

By not judging others, you will make their lives more pleasant, for in essence this judgment caper is wasting good time if you are into doing good. If you really affect the people of earth badly by your judgements, then you are making yourself a candidate for the final judgment, so watch out!

Judgment of others in the law courts will always be around.

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