They laughed. It was not a welcoming “with you” kind of laugh. It was cruel. And yet many of us even at home rolled our eyes when Susan Boyle first stepped on the Stage at Britain’s Got Talent. As she opened her mouth to express her dream of becoming a professional singer, still more chuckles echoed from the audience and from the judges themselves. Ah yes, the JUDGES. Not many were in a non-judgmental frame of mind before the music started. But Susan Boyle stopped all of us dead in our tracks. The judges and all those who were judging. And as her crisp clean amazing voice filled that room, it was heard around the world. Dreams and those who dream them, are not to be judged.
Most recently, the talk is hot about a new book by actress Mackensie Phillips. Her “tell all” book High on Arrival alleges, among other things, an incestuous relationship with her father. The critics and the questions are flying, mostly around whether Ms. Phillips is telling the truth or is just trying to sell her book. So we judge again. In this case, not because of appearances, but because we are not ready to believe something terrible. Unfortunately, there remains in this country a mindset of “blaming the victim.” This is especially true when someone reveals a situation of rape or sexual abuse. In Ms. Phillips case, the questions center around her age at the time of the sexual relationship (over18) and whether the sexual contact was consensual. What is easily forgotten is that a parent-child sexual relationship is incest, no matter what, and an abuse of power. Yet, because of the shock and horror perhaps, we are quick to judge.
The judging each other is a part of the collective consciousness, or like-thinking of many ; it is also one of the common denominators of many faiths and religious practices. The “Commandment” to “Judge not” is echoed throughout the majority of spiritual belief systems especially in the Judeo - Christian practices. Yet it is this group that perhaps is the first to judge, both from a religious and a human standpoint.
The question has been posed previously as to whether it is possible for us to simply accept another’s belief system and acknowledge and love them regardless of race, creed or lifestyle choice. It is this concept that our elder brother Jesus the Christ called for us to do, yet too often we still have those who simply say, if you do not practice the way we believe you should, then you are not one of us.
Susan Boyle and Mackensie Phillips stepped forward. They each in their own way took a risk. Knowing perhaps they would face cheers and jeers, encouragement and criticism, they each believed it was time their voice be heard. That type of courage is perhaps deeper and more profound than most human beings can understand. To stand against every odd, recognize that the world will watch; some waiting for you to crumble and fall, some ready to step forward and applaud, opens one a to a new type of vulnerability. And we as a human race hold the responsibility of non-judgment.
The quote as we know it: “Judge not, less you be judged” doesn’t often seem to resonate any longer with the great population of the world. Many have become immune to personal judgment, and therefore don’t seem to care if they are a target–not on the outside anyway. They will certainly claim they do not care; the “sticks and stones” phenomena.
Is that, then, why we continue to judge? We do not care what is said to us, or what we say to another. We do not care that our words might actually hurt more than a fist-to-stomach blow. We do not care what happens to another person or what role we may have played in their feelings. We simply do not care. Is that the teaching of your God? Is that the Spiritual path you choose to walk?
In some wonderful way Susan Boyle and Mackensie Phillips are two of many thousands who are might be considered modern day Avatars. Teachers, who are gently reminding us that we can not “judge a book by it’s cover” as it were. They are reminders that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. We are One in God and as such we are all of the same Creator. To argue that one religious practice is better than another or the “only way” is to pass judgment on ourselves! As we laugh at another’s appearance, we place everyone into a “better than and less than” box. If we question another’s Truth, we take a piece of who they are.
The arguments can and will come. Some faiths are quite rigid in their belief that they are the only way. That is fine. That is their Truth, and it must be honored, whether or not they are able to honor another’s belief system. Still, as we watch others begin now to come forward into the world with their own talents, treasures and terrors, can we stop, look, and listen to who they are before we decide they are not good enough, or are wrong?
We judged a woman on a stage because she did not “look” like a star, and yet she shines.
We judged a woman who has struggled for years with admitted addictions, because she is saying things some do not want to hear, and yet she stands strong.
We judge each other; and yet, if somehow we suddenly all were turned inside out, it would be difficult to see what the differences were.
One by one, if we commit to refraining from judging each other, eventually, the world will catch on. But like any change, it must begin with you.
