Most of us are aware of several bias-related incidents and “hate crimes” that have occurred within the last several months. Although I don’t know all the facts, I know enough to say these incidents are examples of subjectivity and close-mindedness. There has been a flurry of responses to these cases, including responses by the GUSTAVIAN WEEKLY and by school administration. So the question is, how should we respond to such events?

We should not respond to close-mindedness with a closed mind. Some believe an apology by the wrongdoers is not enough to fix the problem. I will not take a stance on the usefulness of an apology. Rather, having an attitude of “nothing can fix what has been done” will not fix the problem.

Avoiding subjectivity towards those responsible for the incidents is what will enable us to move on and for forgiveness to take place. Would the problem ever be fixed if you always hold a grudge against wrongdoers for their actions?  The same applies to your best friend when they do something that upset you. Should you hold a grudge against your friend for what they have done?

You don’t have to believe what someone else believes in, and somebody else does not have to conform to your beliefs either. You don’t have to judge people even if they do bad things. What you can do is look through an objective lens and see things for what they are.

Objectivity and subjectivity can manifest in three different ways: in our thoughts, speech, and actions. The moral of this article is not to allow subjective thoughts lead to subjective words and actions.

I have a problem when we judge each other, when we treat each other differently because of our subjective mind-sets, when close-mindedness leads to hurtful actions towards one another, and when we view the world in black and white. A friend of mine refers to this perspective as tunnel vision.

Try being objective and avoid being subjective. Have an open mind and allow people to believe what they want to. Be willing to disagree. In fact, you can learn and grow by working through disagreements. Observe before you judge and think about your reaction to what you see. Then ask yourself “why do I feel the way I do?” Recognize instances of personal subjectivity. These moments could arise when you notice a particular action, when you see somebody who looks and dresses differently than you, when you can’t stand a professor; and even when you’re being critical to a teammate during practice.

It’s important to realize we do not intentionally think, speak, or act subjectively. We are not always aware of the implications and power of what we say and do. I will be the first one to tell you that what we intend is not always what comes out. For example a couple weeks ago, I tried to objectively tell a teammate I disagreed with him. I ended up not getting the point across that I hoped to. As a result I hurt my friend’s feelings. This does not happen often, but it’s bound to happen to us all. However, we can make an effort to be more aware of whether our words or actions could be harmful. I could have chosen to say nothing at all.

You can’t blame someone for non-intentional subjectivity. Things are different though if you intentionally choose to act subjectively. Don’t get me wrong, you can be subjective. You can be close-minded. You can choose to fill your head with all sorts of judgments. That’s your choice, but please don’t let those beliefs enable you to hurt someone else.

Even if you completely disagree with someone and that person has treated you poorly, you don’t have to treat them poorly. Instead, you can accept things for how they are. You can accept things that are outside of your control. You can choose to remain objective. Suspending subjective thoughts can at times be impossible though. In this type of situation, you can still choose to act objectively.

We should try our best to always interact with others in an objective manner. This means not making negative comments. This means only having neutral or positive things to say. It also means you can objectively and responsibly disagree. Although you may have a major disagreement with a friend, you can let them know you still care about them and that you still appreciate them. If a friend, or anyone for that matter, does not share your own beliefs, is that enough to consider them less of a person? Less of a friend?

Doctrines of Christianity and other religions tell us to love our neighbors. This means having only love for our friends even when differences and arguments arise. Martin Luther King Jr. in his famous speech on Loving Your Enemies asked “How is it that you can see the mote in your brother’s eye and not see the beam in your own?” In other words, how can you make a judgment about someone if your own subjectivity makes you blind?

You might think we have an obligation or a right to change people in light of disagreements. Subjective thoughts tell us others need to be like us. We should be hesitant to change people, even if that change would be for their own good. Change should be self-initiated and should come from within. If you do want to change somebody, you can do so objectively. You can lead by example. You can show others how to be open-minded. You can choose to express love.

It begins with a change of vision. When you choose to look through a lens of objectivity, you will see a diverse world of vivid colors, as opposed to a world of plain black and white. What sounds more appealing to you?