Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and all other social media users - I get it! You are upset about the double standards in our society. Trending latest - Why Rosanne was cancelled after a twitter, but the same network hasn't cancelled The View? Each week, something new sprouts up and the glaring double standards stir the social media feeds.
But here is the thing - there have always been double standards in our country - this is nothing new! From the moment the pilgrims and puritans stepped off their boats, there were clear double standards. Whether it be man/woman, fat/thin, white/color, immigrant/native, republican/democrat, rich/poor, religion/religion, etc. - double standards!
Double standards remind me of a Bible verse - very loosely translated: Why do you see the speck in someone else's eye, but not notice the log in in your own eye? Isn't that also the definition of a hypocrite, though? When you have/practice a double standard, it is a type of hypocrisy. The encyclopedia definition of the word means: the practice of claiming to have a moral standard or belief, but not conforming to the same. Hmm…
Since Rosanne is the latest, let's talk about racist comments - If you morally believe that racism is wrong…then it should be wrong across the board, correct? (To be clear, I do believe it is wrong.) However, if you ignore a racist comment from someone you normally agree with, yet make a public outcry when the same is said or done from someone you don't normally agree with, isn't that hypocrisy? Is it not also a double standard?
The speck and the log…we see, or don't see, what best fits our beliefs and opinions of the world around us. All too often, we overlook or ignore the faults of one person, yet microscopically dissect and announce the SAME faults in another. Unless you are a saint, those are the facts.
So, what do we do, assuming we want to change something? Let's face it, posting and sharing indignant comments on social media accomplishes nothing more than fueling those who believe the same and ruffling the feathers of those who don't. There is the civic way - to write a congressman or vote against or for something that promotes a double standard. (Although, this may not give the satisfaction of 50 "likes" and 20 "shares" that feeds self esteem. :O) How about an inward searching of the heart? What do I do or say that is a double standard, a form of hypocrisy? Do I allow my thoughts on color, gender, appearance, political alignments, religion, etc. to cloud my judgement of an individual? Do I factor that in when forming an opinion?
For parents - this gets passed along, from one generation to the next…a form of heredity. Your kids absorb the comments that you make, whether verbal or with body language. When you make a derogatory comment about one person, they also may assume this should be applied to all people like them! It creates the "ALL" way of thinking - all Christians are…all people of color are…all men are…all, all, all. It creates the stereotypes and mindset to judge by that grouping and forget that each person is different and individual…and it feeds into creating another generation of double standards and hypocrisy.
Off the soapbox and onto the sunset…have a wonderful weekend!
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| The sunset last night was purple! (No, that isn't my finger print on the lens, it is apparently how the camera processes a screen! haha) |
Very well written. It's true at every level! Thoughts get complicated sometimes from our own perceptions or lack of truth and information.
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