Judge Not

Soccer Mom...Blue Collar Worker...High-Level Executive...Waiter...Student. We all have labels that appear over our heads. They cue others on our background, our job, or what neighborhood we live in. It's all right there on our label, and others treat us accordingly.

For all of the noise about being politically correct, they can't remove the prejudices that we all carry with us. The best you can do is censor your thoughts before you say or do something stupid.

Many years ago, I was working in a retail jewelry store. It was Christmas time. A man walked in with his young daughter. He was disheveled, his clothes were dirty. It looked like he'd just gotten off work at the plant. I approached him to see how I could help. He said he was looking for a Christmas present for his wife. After looking around a bit and consulting with his daughter, he decided on a pair of diamond earrings. They were a couple hundred dollars. I was concerned that he'd be able to pay for them. But he reached in his pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. He handed them to me and said, very sheepishly, "Can you count out the money for me?" I took his money and, like a bank teller, counted out by 20's until the amount was reached,  gave him his change, and said I was sure his wife was going to be really happy on Christmas morning. His smile transformed his face. He thanked me, took his little girl's hand, and headed for home.

That's why it doesn't pay to judge.

Also, many of the crimes committed are by guys in suits. Remember Enron? Lehman Brothers?