Favorites - August 24, 2020

 Favoritism 

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/is-displaying-favoritism-in-the-workplace-illegal-4159736

Hey - I do play favorites!!  (And, I’m not necessarily proud of that).  But, I don’t want to think I overdo it!!  (Probably everybody says that).

Some people are just easier to meet and work with.  I worked well with some faculty people in the past (LMG, TF, JM, RR, DB, WP, BS, and others).  

If I walked into a room with two people - an older lady, with a smile, nicely done hair, and wearing a nice outfit - and - a black kid with a grimace on his face, listening to rap on headphones (that was so loud I could hear it, tattoos (with skulls, and knives), multiple piercings and clothes that looked like they hadn’t been in a washing machine in years - I would probably pick the older lady.  But, I’d think I would walk over and say “hi” to the kid too!!!

There is a story of a black man - maybe in his 50s or 60s with “okay” clothes and a wife dressed in “okay” clothes going into a car dealership to look at a new car (I’ll call them the “first couple”.  About the same time, a man who looked like he was in his 40s or 50s who looked wealthy and a stunning wife came in to look at a new car as well (I’ll call them the second couple).  The first couple were met by a salesperson who showed them some ‘okay’ cars; and the second couple expressed their interest in higher-priced cars and the second salesperson could almost count his commission.  

They both test drove one of the cars.  The second salesperson was looking to close the deal and was starting to ask about trade-in vehicles and payments.  The wealthy-looking man put him off for a while asking about extra features he could get on the car.  Eventually, the second salesperson asked directly “Are you interested in this car?  What can I do to make it yours today?”  At that the wealthy looking man said, I couldn’t possibly afford a car like this on my meager salary.

The first couple were still looking and talking to their salesperson.  When asked about financing, the first couple said they would be paying cash for the car.  Ultimately, the first couple were the couple of means and the second couple just doing some dreaming.  But, the salespeople decided by looking at the people who could afford what car.  

From James Chapter 2 in the Bible: 

“Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”  have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?  But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?  Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?”

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. “

*****

A second story.

When I finished with my graduate work, I thought it was time to get active in professional organizations.  The one that appealed to me was EDSIG (Education Special Interest Group) and their conference - ISECON (Information Systems Education Conference.  I went to my first conference in 1990 - not knowing anybody. Very few people came up to me.  I went to presentations, went to the reception, and tried to start conversations just to have the person I was talking to say “Excuse me, I need to talk to my old friend Bart”.  I ended up going to my hotel room and going to bed early.

Two years later, I went back to ISECON - but in between, I had decided if I wanted to make friends, I needed to be a friend.  (For those who don’t know the real me - I can be introverted).  I made sure I did introduce myself to as many people as I could.  And, I was elected to the board of directors - and eventually chaired that conference four times and was ‘kind of” “Mr. ISECON”.  

*****

We are to be friends to all people and to make an attempt to know all people.  Last week, I wrote about “Walk a mile in their shoes”.  I have tried to understand people in order to befriend them.  

I have used the expression “We are all made in the image and likeness of God” - so that black kid (in the first situation above) is also made in God’s image. And, unless he rejects me, I’m going to be friendly to him.

I know there is a pandemic going on, but you may be out and about.  Say ‘Hi’ to people, smile (as good as you can behind a mask).  The other day in the grocery store, I said: “hi” to probably 40 people - all of whom I did not know - some looked at me like “Should I know this person?” and others “smiled back at me” (I could tell)!!! It is like this word puzzle:

h      a      p      p     i      n      e     s      s

That is “Spread a little happiness”.  We can do it!

LOVE WINS!!

Hugs

Karen

(and, yes, it is my birthday)