Privilege
A: Do you have to act like an asshole everywhere you go?
B: Noo…
A: Well, apparently you do.
I heard this conversation between a man (A) and a child (B) who was probably 5-7 years old. The idea of cussing a child out is wild to me. But here’s some context.
I’m chilling in my car bc I wanted to have my café au lait in the sun. The car is off and I’m in the shade but if it gets too hot I’ll go inside or turn the car on.
They were holding hands and walking away from a store to their next location.
It is currently almost 88/32° (F/C) and the humidity is 76% on a beautiful sunny day. Peak Florida in July.
How does that change my reaction to the whole situation? My friend suggested that when I start to judge people I could consider what privileges I have that they don’t and how that could have contributed to them being where they are in relationship to where I am judging.
I am of the belief that people should be met where they are; children are people; people are inherently deserving of love and deserve being treated well.
I am also aware that if I had to walk any distance in this heat and humidity with a child… I would rather not. Which begs the question— do I really think that he wanted to be walking to and from the store in the middle of this beautiful, hot, humid summer day with a curious child who doesn’t know that life gets hard sometimes?
And if I think that he would prefer to be in the shade, or at least in a vehicle with AC then perhaps I can consider not judging him in a harsh light. Maybe it’s just a hard day, week, year.