Name: Anonymous 2007-04-08 11:40 ID:wZcJzMUC
The great Martin Luther King Jr. said, as we all know, "Judge people not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Very powerful words, yes, but it reflects a deeply rooted system of morals that can be seen in all cultures. Most of these cultures believe judging a man as bad is wrong only if it is on false pretenses, and judging a man as good is encouraged and accepted in any case. This can be seen in our culture, suburban-Christian, with the Bible quote: "Judge Ye lest ye be judged."
For almost any person in this world, judging is something that is natural and accepted under unconscious perameters. So, for me to say a statement such as "All judgement is wrong" is somewhat radical in this society. However, some people confuse the word of judgement to be inclusive to judging that someone is bad, and therefore agree with me. But do not be blind; all judgement, including judging a man to be "good", is wrong.
As I said earlier, we live in a society that constantly judges, whether we know it or not. For instance, I am considered successful because I make good grades and I am economically auspicious. A bum is lower standard of being because he lives among the depths of garbage and filth. Or we could go far enough to say that a man who is kind to everyone, honest, loyal, hard-working, and of benevolent intentions for all is a good man. These are all forms of judgement. People say that these things are not crude, ignorant labeling; they are truths (see truth.txt). The problem with judgement, even if you're judging a man to be a "good" man, is that you are dis-leveling society. You are placing one man above another. That makes the other man a "bad" man, or less of a man.
People argue that there is nothing wrong with this. If a man is malicious, it is obvious that he is bad. It is not "being affected by society" (which is something he can't help, so we should pity him), he was born that way and he is a bad man. It is this concept of "being naturally bad" that justifies people believing someone is a bad man. People argue "Bad Seed vs. Environment", debating whether a man is born evil or is "corrupted by society" (as Rosseau believed). A bad seed, by society's standards, should be despised, but a man corrupted by society should be pitied. Well isn't it true that a naturally malicious man is born that way? Can he help it? No. If he is born malicious, he cannot help that. He did not ask to be malicious. And if a man is corrupted by society, he cannot help that either. Either way he is helpless. Therefore, the arguement of "Bad Seed vs. Environment" is void.
Why did I just say all of that? Because, it is all judgement. If a man is benevolent, he is born that way. If a man is malicious, he too is born that way. Is there any difference in these men? People use judgement to define men. But men cannot be defined because they cannot help but be themselves. Does a "bad" (I stress the quotes) man have the obligation to end his life the instant he realizes he is bad? No. A man is a man. A man is born a man, and lives as a man. Different men are different. But do not regard one man as higher than the next. That, my friends, is inequality. JUDGEMENT=INEQUALITY. That is why all judgement is wrong.