We are reminded frequently by Pope Francis that we should not be judgmental. He has personally demonstrated his charity and humanity by setting examples of how to be kind and generous when judging others.
The Bible is clear. Matthew 7:1,2 “Judge not least ye be judged.” The Good Book also insists that God sits in judgment of us on “Judgment Day.” This suggests to me that some judgment is good and other judgment is, well, judgmental. I guess that if you are an omnipotent God, you can have it both ways.
I am not God. I discovered that a long time ago. That epiphany frees me from any obligation to be nonjudgmental.
Only a fool would suggest that we are nonjudgmental. We all make judgments every day of our lives. We just pretend to call it something else.
The following is my confession of being judgmental.
There are two serious health epidemics in America. One is opiate and chemical addiction and the other is obesity. Both are costing us an enormous amount of resources to combat and both share an alarming cost in human tragedies.
Chemical addiction is an insidious disease. Its victims come from all walks of life, economic status and professions. They may appear to behave normally in society but the chemicals alter their brain patterns, create havoc and distort rational behavior. Their brains crave more and more chemicals. They suffer in silence and guilt.
The obese person does not enjoy that same level of inconspicuousness. They wear it on their body every day.
I have no interest in shaming obese people. Unlike chemical addiction, many people, including me, have choices to make concerning obesity. I am carrying about 10 pounds of extra fat that my doctor advises me to shed. Grocery shopping is a terrible dilemma for me. I give myself such very good advice but I very seldom follow it. I stare through the glass door of the ice cream freezer and see a carton of pistachio ice cream and, like the Lorelei on the Rhine, it is calling my name. Should I or shouldn’t I. I hear my conscience whispering in my ear, “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.” I open the glass door and surrender. It’s not an addiction. It’s my choice.
I watch the line of heavyweight people every morning at the coffee shop go through the same ritual. They order 1,800 calories before the day begins. By dinnertime they have consumed enough calories to feed an entire family in a third-world country for a day.
I am told not to be judgmental.
Many obese people are oblivious of the damage they are doing to their bodies. Adult diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, blown-out knees and feet problems from carrying too much weight and a host of other medical problems associated with excess body fat that are shortening their life expectancy.
Empirical evidence suggests that some obese people are not responsible for the excess weight they carry. Genetic and hereditary health conditions may contribute to their obesity, including metabolism imbalance and other unfortunate health problems. These cases represent a tiny fraction of seriously obese people.
There are no shortages of other serious health risks. Smokers with lung issues are among the worst. They order a pack of cigarettes while coughing their guts out. School lunch programs offer junk food to our kids with the blessing of school boards, and we wonder why so many young people struggle with childhood diabetes and obesity. Even when given healthy food choices, children often prefer to chose high-calorie choices like pizza, cheeseburgers and mac and cheese. The apples and fruit are left to rot.
I am told not to be judgmental.
Maybe, just maybe, it may be time to be a tiny bit judgmental. Nothing else appears to be working. On the contrary. There are movements to endorse obese people as “fat is beautiful.” Unbelievable. Fat can kill and it does so every day. Little by little it steals the energy and self respect from good and decent people. They cannot control their desire for high-caloric food. They end up being hospitalized with major health problems caused by their self-inflicted obesity. It sometimes ends with a one-way trip to the morgue.
This is a community health issue that has been swept under the rug for too long because of the fear that someone may be accused of being judgmental. We can do better. We can offer help and support to people dealing with obesity issues.
Science, modern medicine and a combination of dietary discipline and exercise techniques may help the obese, but ultimately it is they who must be willing to do their part and accept personal responsibility for the choices they make when putting food in their mouths. They did not become obese through osmosis.
I think this is topical and something that our community needs to address openly and honestly. It is okay to be judgmental as long as it is not designed to deliberately offend or demean others. I think Pope Francis and his Friend would approve of that.
(Jim Baer lives in Concord.)