Baffles me all to heck

I'm sitting out on the lanai, writing in my blog and a couple of silly sandhill cranes happen by. They are something to watch, with their noisy honks and big bodies.

It was interesting to watch the people at the church potluck on Sunday.  Pastor Gene had said for the oldest members to get their food first, with the youngest pulling up the rear.  Everyone just sat there, stealing a look around at the other people sitting around them.  No one considered himself to be older than anyone else there.  The woman sitting next to me and I looked at each other to determine which of us was more elderly.  I didn't want to be rude, but she was obviously older than I. So how do you politely defer to her without insultingly saying," Well, Dearie, I do believe you are the senior to myself."?  Eventually, with the encouragement of those in charge, the brave or honest got into line.  Michael and I held back for quite a while, and any one knowing Michael, knows that took self restraint.

Why is it that the human tendency is to put up a self made yard stick where we value others by our own artificial standards, though?  I was with a small group of women at the church yesterday. One woman lamented that her son would not accept her bi-racial grandchildren. She said," After all it isn't the children's" fault"". Wait a minute now.  The children's "fault"?  As if to say that someone was at "fault" creating these beautiful children?  The one at fault is the biggot who thinks he has a right to judge what is acceptable about the human race.  He would be right if he recognized his own biases and hatred, and then did something about his irrational thinking. 

Why do we do that? We have to pump ourselves up some how at someone else's expense. Always. It is never for their benefit. The first time I saw those four wheeled, creeping bikes on the trail, my first thought was,"So you take the lazy way to ride a bike".  When I realized that this was a way for older people and those with back problems to get out and enjoy some exercise and fresh air, I was ashamed of myself.

But for some reason we think that because some one is of a different religion or political persuasion, or segment of society,or what ever, they are lesser than we are.  Yet, the truth is that the lesser person is the one who judges others for what ever reason. And the worst ever are those who say someone is less than they are because the person is of a different race, or older or what ever beyond their control, as if their is something they should do about it. Sure does baffle me.