By Farah G. Decano

 

PEOPLE are always on the lookout for things that make their life easier.  They tend to rely on previous experiences to guide them with their next actions.  In today’s fast-paced and impersonal world, most of us succumb to the temptation of stereotyping others.

Stereotyping is a rushed and baseless judgment on individuals’ capabilities or character in accordance with some pattern or fixed idea.   It is generally discriminatory because: 1) it is an overgeneralization; and 2) it limits the potentials of individuals without providing them any chance to dispute the so-called standards upon which they were pre-judged.  For example, associating women to stormy weather is typical stereotyping of females in the workplace.  As a result, some women end up pigeonholed to doing minor tasks which require less responsibilities.

The use of stereotypes, however, is not entirely negative.  Sometimes, we follow identified markers to defend us from danger, especially when there is little time for scrutiny.  After the Twin Towers attack in 2001, the JDLR (Just Does Not Look Right) rule was used by the United States Homeland Security officers to spot potential terrorists. This rule, however, was questioned by the American Civil Liberties Union as discriminatory because its implementation tended to focus on particular races.

One can make personal stereotypes based on his/her experiences.  They become rules of thumb that serve as reminders not to take other persons at face value.  This writer’s antenna goes haywire when a mere acquaintance becomes too submissive or too nice for comfort.   In extreme cases, she is reminded of Judas Iscariot.

Remember Judas Iscariot?  His duplicity was finally uncovered when he handed Jesus to the Roman soldiers.  Before that, he skillfully gained the trust of the Apostles who made him their treasurer.  He basked in the company of good men and was probably seen by the public to be as holy as the Messiah.  One day, Judas expressed scorn over Mary Magdalene’s act of pouring expensive perfume over Jesus’ feet and found it wasteful.  He was quoted as saying, “[W]hy wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”  Here is what the Apostle John said of Judas, “He did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (John 12:6).

On the other hand, there are attributes that this writer appreciates.   These are the qualities of candor, spontaneity and passion.   At first glance, people with these characteristics may not be welcoming.  They tend to manifest a “what you see is what you get” appearance.

Unlike the softspoken adulators, the latter type brings to mind St. Peter, the Apostle, who talked and acted faster than he thought.  When he saw Jesus walking on water, he hastily jumped into the lake and asked the Son of God that he be allowed to walk too (Mathew 14:22-33). He also inappropriately interrupted the conversation of Jesus with Moses and Elijah during the transfiguration and offered them dwellings (Mathew 17:4).

This writer prefers those who embody the defects of St. Peter because their acts are less measured and less calculating.

*          *          *          *

 This author commiserates with those who lost their jobs due to the budget cuts.  But flooding social media with videos about those who lost their livelihood does not help.  Firing of JOEs is nothing new to the public anymore.  It is a fact that every time a new mayor is installed, most JOES of the losing mayor are terminated.  And these JOEs cried too yet their contracts were not renewed. 

The strongest argument against the budget cut should be the reduction of city’s services which affects all city residents, rich or poor, taxpayer or not.  Just saying.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments