Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Judging a person by appearances

We hear about this all the time right?  Everyone talks about and advices everyone else not to judge someone by their appearances...But I'll be the bad person, I'll be the first person to admit...yes... sometimes I do this...I try not to...but sometimes I still do...I think deep down inside alot of people do (don't lie! lol) especially when they feel like that person might be able to harm them in any way.

Envision this:  Male suspect...pretty tall and average build...tattoos, chains, and piercings all over his body...hat worn sideways...dressed in a tank and his pants on the ground, pants on the ground, lookin like a fool with his pants on the ground.

What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you see a person like this walking towards you on the street?  No really, I really want to know...the very first thoughts that comes to your mind...honest one...

True Story...

I was in Pittsburgh on my layover...I had a whole day there so decided to actually venture outside of my hotel room and walk around to see if there was anything interesting...normally I might not even step outside but I decided I wanted some fresh air and to clear my head...

I walked around this little theater district there and they have benches set up all along the street...I sat down on one of them and did a little people watching...

Directly in front of me on the other side of the street a lady was walking out of a building...she was pushing the door open and stopped on the top steps that would lead her down to the street...she stopped and paused...I tried to peer a little closer...I realized that she was holding a walking cane and she had on sunglasses so I came to a realization that this was a blind woman I was watching...

Before I could get up from the bench to see if she needed help...A young man was, at the same time, walking up those steps to enter the same building...He was trying to get into the building so he had held the door open for her to come out...when she stopped, I saw him ask her something...then he held out his arm, and led her down the steps to the street...

Instead of turning around and entering the building (his original plan)...He proceeds to walk her down the street to the end of the block where a bus was waiting...He helped her on the bus, then turned around and walked back to the building and I'm assuming...went on with his day...

This young man, was the same male suspect I described to you in the beginning...after watching this whole scene taking place before my eyes...I once again urged myself not to judge anyone by their outer appearances...ever again...

I was in absolute awe and sadness...awe because he didn't have to help her, you know?  But he not only helped her...he went above and beyond...I felt sadness...sadness because I know that alot of other people would have had the same initial judgment that I had...if only looking at his outer shell...and in a way I blame the society we live in for us thinking this way...because we're afraid of being harmed...because we're afraid we're going to get hurt...but because of all this...I know that he, has not been given a fair chance at things that he, having such a beautiful personality, really deserves.  Because many people would've looked, saw what they saw, and never gave him a second chance...

I'm not saying he is a perfect saint just because he did what he did...I'm just saying...after what I saw this beautiful afternoon in a not so familiar city...I will think twice before I "judge a book by its cover" again.

3 comments:

The Random Blogette said...

I admit it! I do judge people on their overall appearance. It is hard not to. It is great to see someone who is the opposite of the stereotype though!

Kat said...

I know it's hard and it'll still be hard for me..but I will try my best to remember!

Waisting Time said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today:) I love this story. I think everyone pre-judges sometime, whether we admit it (or even realize it) or not. Makes me wonder what someone seeing me would thing!