Judgement Ain't Love

Day 2 folks!! I'm on a roll!!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post I wanted to write about my weekend, specifically about a conversation I had while I was on a date.  The topic of women hair came up and I gave my usual anti-weave, anti-synthetic, all natural spiel.  I was pleasantly met with opposition and was labeled ignorant.  

I bring up the story because during the exchange of me stating my opinion and her being offended by my stance on the matter I felt something I haven't felt in a while.  I can't really describe it but when people are being attacked some kind of mental defense mechanism kicks in.  Our brains 'turn off', our logic fails us, our ears stop listening and the walls start to build.  It was at this point when I realized how humans become ignorant.  I could've fought her on the matter.  I could've said "yeah well that's how I feel and I'm not gonna change just because you're offended."  I could've turned my heart, my ears and my attention away from an important topic and rationalized it by saying she's overreacting, or she was "being crazy."  I could've chosen to stay ignorant on the matter and build a wall so that any further attacks would prove ineffective.  In the nanosecond it took me to decide against this I realized that with a little bit of practice, and a ton of stubborn I could've become no better than the racists, or the AK47 touting NRA dickheads, or, literally, the entire staff at Fox News. (Ann Coulter has a special spot in hell) But I didn't.  Thankfully.  I decided that I should listen, because she was right, who am I to speak for the women and tell them what to do with their hair?  I'm probably the least qualified person on the planet to do so.  I should leave the decisions and the judgement up to them.  Why even get involved? Why not speak to all of them and ask them about their hair, and listen with the intent to understand not with the intent to respond.  

This is sounds more along the lines of things a good human would do.  This feels better than building walls rooted in ignorance.  At times I lose sight of the very thing I preach, and having someone to redirect me to the correct path is a luxury.  I'm glad I was corrected, and from this day forth I'll ask questions instead of jumping to conclusions.  I'll attempt to understand and attempt to educate myself on the topic.  Judgement ain't love.

A vine this time!!