It depends

Folks, could it be that it is all in the eyes, ears and mind of the beholder? I ask you this because we sometimes make assumptions and decisions on what we thought we heard, what we thought we saw and what we thought others were thinking. We may also have failed to realize that what is considered suitable in one culture is considered gauche in another. The use of certain words can bring about different thoughts and actions. Perhaps, just perhaps it behooves us as individuals and as a nation to be more careful of our language and our actions.

I recall two incidents that helped to convince me of this belief. One is about a young high school girl who was chosen by the Farmersville Rotary Club to spend a year living with an Australian family and attending high school in that country.

She had been there a couple of months when, after a hearty meal, she pushed her chair back from the table and said, "I’m stuffed." Her host family was shocked! Many things went through their minds. Later she would be told what some of those things were.

Be that as it may, they were astute enough to ask, "What do you mean you are stuffed?" She replied that she was so full that she could not eat another bite. Sighs of relief were heard as her host family relaxed. The first thing they told her was, in that part of Australia, when a woman announced that she was stuffed; it meant that she was pregnant! Her host family then informed her about some of the thoughts that were running through their minds after she made her announcement.

Here was an American girl, with loose morals, who came to live in their home and in a few months had gotten pregnant. They would send her back home immediately! Why oh why had they ever agreed to host an American student in the first place.

That is one of the experiences that I recall about jumping to conclusions after hearing something you thought was derogatory concerning another person.

The other incident was when an old college friend of ours came to visit us when we lived in Farmersville, Ohio. He and I were in our local variety store. While in there a local resident came staggering into the store. My friend came over and said to me, "Joe, look at that, guy. He is as drunk as a skunk."

I informed my friend that this was not the case. This man had a brain tumor and that was why he staggered as he did.

Yes, folks many of us have jumped to false conclusions because of what someone said or what we thought we saw.

I am reminded of an old American Indian saying that makes a lot of sense to me.

‘Great Spirit’, help me not to judge another person until I have walked in their moccasins for two moons.'

Good advice!

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