Lifting, In Increments

"I learned compassion from being discriminated against. Everything 

bad that's ever happened to me has taught me compassion."

Ellen DeGeneres

Discrimination was experienced early in my life. I was the only non-catholic attending a Roman Catholic Elementary School. I was growing up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and I was not of the Jewish faith. I attended a private college prep academy with wealthy people who lived in distant neighborhoods. I learned quickly, that minorities attract uneducated judgments which can personally trigger either hatred or compassion.

My father was a very prejudiced man and as a rebellious child I of course stood for whoever he judged. I was forever digging to find background material which could help explain the actions of the criticized. In stating his case, I would continuously search for mitigating circumstances so he could view others as human beings. I did not succeed, as he would only shake his head in disapproval; but I experienced two sides to every story.

My career threw me into dysfunctional homes and as I was able to understand the origin of decay, I began lifting ... in increments ... the down trodden. The word prejudice grows out of numerous situations of being misunderstood, judged, and disrespected; as not being seen for any value; and primarily categorized based on ignorance and lack of understanding. Compassion is not a simple emotion. From our experiences, we either kindle hatred or allow compassion to become a life style.