"Contains Wheat"

Today I did some grocery shopping because my food was running low. So I went to Wesselman's, a grocery-store about 5 minutes by walking from campus. I was looking around trying to decide on what I wanted to buy. It started with the potatoes. I saw some au gratin potatoes that were on sale and looked good, so I was going to get them. I then looked at the nutrition facts, but only as an after-thought. How could potatoes and cheese contain wheat? However I then turned the box over and looked at the ingredients and at the end I found the dreaded phrase: "Contains Wheat." I almost threw the box across the store. How is this possible?! I then started to formulate conspiracy theories. These companies knew that I had recently been diagnosed with Celiac Disease over the summer, making it so that any wheat rye or barley products that enter my intestines cannot be digested and cause permanent damage to my intestines, very likely resulting in intestinal cancer. These companies knew this and didn't want me to eat anything good. Then I pushed those thoughts into the back of my mind. Surely that can't be the case. The wheat is added for some purpose. Oh, and don't call me Shirley. I then looked at some french fries that had some seasoning on them. Sure enough on the ingredients: "Contains Wheat." Again rage built up inside of me. I then shopped around for other things that I needed that I knew were ok for me to eat. Turkey and cheese and milk and chips. These things were just fine. And then I went to the frozen meals. Obviously the ones that would be breaded would not be ok, but I thought that the others should probably be ok. After checking about 7 or 8 of said meals, I came to the conclusion that these the frozen food companies were in league with the french fry and potato people. They all hated me without even knowing me and wanted me to die of intestinal cancer. Ok, so maybe that was a bit over board, but I was quite distraught over not being able to get the things that I wanted. I suppose in the end it's worth it to be on this diet, watching what I eat so that I can prevent the inevitable cancer that is such a prevalent fear in this day and age. I might not like all of this dieting and label-reading now, but someday I'll look back on it in my old age and understand that it was worth it.

Throwing the First Stone

Why as a society do we not allow people to make up for their mistakes? Why is it that when someone messes up, we automatically label them as a "bad person" and assume that they should not be a part of "normal society" any longer? Why do we never give anyone the benefit of the doubt? I don't think that term even applies anymore, because no one ever uses it. We automatically assume the worst, and the person has no chance to explain themselves, or to try and pay recompense for what they've done. People simply pass judgment and condemn the person for the rest of their lives. I don't buy into that. As terrible as humanity seems to be most of the time, we are all a part of it, whether we like it or not. It could easily be you or me that makes the mistake next time, and wouldn't we like to be given a second chance by everyone else? I believe that everyone, no matter who you are, is capable of making choices that turn out to be bad decisions. However I also believe that everyone, again, no matter who you are, is capable of turning around and making changes in their lives to make it so that they don't make that same mistake again. People are capable of change, and most importantly, we are all capable of making changes for the better. I think that's what gives me hope about humanity. I believe that everyone has that choice, everyone is capable of bettering themselves. Some choose not to take this route, and that is the decision of each individual. But I think that we can all make the world a better place by making a conscious decision to see the best in ourselves, as well as in others. Let's hold off on passing judgment until we have given the person a fair chance. If our assumptions are proven correct and the person was in the wrong, then what have we lost? But if we pass judgment on an innocent person, haven't we thrown the first stone, essentially? What gives us that right? Everyone deserves a chance, and if we do that ourselves, we will most certainly get it in return.