I AM HUMAN AND NOTHING HUMAN CAN BE FOREIGN TO ME

 

Understanding that “I am human and nothing human can be foreign to me”, has been those subjects I fathom momentarily but as soon as I step out of class it seems to have gone in one ear and out the other ear. It is just so easy to judge others, there's a devilish satisfaction that comes with it. Whether it comes from a place of fear, insecurities and just socialisation.   Uttering the words "Do not judge but try to understand why someone would do what they've done" is easier said than done.

With everything that happens on a micro scale (within families, friends, lovers) and on a macro scale (politically, socially, economically, etc). It is easy to judge without trying to empathize with the ‘culprit’. It is easy to post on FB, Re-Tweet, blog about and discuss with aversion, “How could she/he/they” then dissociatively ask “who does that to another person”.

Maya Angelou once quoted the statement  “Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto” by Terence which means. 'I am human. Nothing Human can be alien to me’ and she followed to say “If you can internalize at least a portion of that, you will never be able to say of a criminal act, 'Oh, I couldn't do that,' -no matter how heinous a crime. If a human being did it, you have to say, I have all the components that are in her or in him. I intend to use my energies constructively as opposed to disruptively. People will wrong you and vice-versa. We are all capable of being the ‘culprit’ and afflicting others under the ‘right’ circumstances. 

Before you saddle up next time; slow down, try understanding, putting yourself in the place of the culprit and remember this “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”.