Our conscious minds are always working out equations on the things we come into contact directly or indirectly on a constant basis. These equations are the actual perceptions we’ve all come to accept as the norm or the accepted. In another perspective, we have all learned to place judgments on the things and of course people around us.

We all belong to the society, and in such a way, a mutually shared perspective would become the ‘norm’ and decide what is accepted and what is not. This knowledge might also be imprinted into us in our upbringing and exposure. Those who would not conform to these conditions would need to find another society that does or assume the roles as victims of prejudices. Has our society already evolved to that stage?

Today marks the beginning on a brand new year, a year of uncertainties and unknowns for many. In the midst of our daily concerns, I asked myself and dug deep for the answer to the question; Have I conformed and became a part of a judgmental group?

Before the establishment of the Yellow Ribbon Project in Oct 2004, ex-convicts were mostly shunned away by many, perceived as dangerous and baddies. Faced with closed doors, many have returned to their old company and have fallen once again. For the repentant group dying to grasp that second chance, they probably would have been shut out by our perceptions. Things took a better turn; people are generally more accepting and probably accommodating today, if not aware.

Many years ago, many people would blush at the topic about AIDS and sex. That was the norm back then in a traditional inclined society, where such issues were meant to be avoided or only discussed behind closed doors. Through efforts by various organizational bodies, posters about safe sex and condoms were published. Then, documentary films and shows revolving around AIDS and STDs. Now, talking about a topic some considered a taboo is widely accepted and a norm. Discussion and plain talking may not drop the figures drastically in cases of AIDS and other STDs, but it has brought about greater awareness and hopefully acceptance.

Today, I’ve came across an article about mentally ill patients and the stigma surrounding mental illness; The public reaction and awareness of these less fortunate ones, who probably have once been amongst us. I ain’t perfect and neither are you, I have played my part in discrimination and mockery in my younger, less sensible days. That was my perception, it’s probably shared by you at one point in time. Let me make a bold assumption here that most of us would perceive them as unstable and unpredictable, therefore equating to dangerous and to be shunned and placed in homes. Would this equation also meant that one cannot find a place to accept them in ourselves other than designated homes? One could argue that homes would provide them the suitable care and such. But might we be deceiving ourselves and perceived it as just a dumping ground; sadly?

Thrown into a community closely knitted, perceptions somehow do play a part in deciding a person’s destiny. At the very least, these perceptions would decide how we would treat things and people differently. In the same light, invisible barricades might have been formed and ‘death sentences’ passed.

We have learnt to perceived and judge presumptuously.

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