Can discrimination be justified? It is seemingly a simple question. Except it is not so simple. The answer must be, “it depends.” For various reasons: One of which is the meaning of the two words. Judge Judy many want you to say yes or no; not so fast.

What discrimination depends on: A certain something; which may be affected by a larger number of factors, facts, criterion, etc. Only after establishing those factors, specifically, can a decision be made.

To discriminate is to decide. Most people try to be right in making their decisions. What profit is there in making wrong decisions?

A thirsty person reaching for a refrigerator door handle is discriminating every moment while reaching, by one’s brain/eye coordination. Your hand reaches the door handle and you get your drink. You were right.

But if you reached and missed, you discriminated incorrectly and were wrong. This physical type of discrimination is trivial or simplex.

Right and wrong are important to the concepts discrimination and decision.

Complex moral and social questions are much more difficult. It is easy to get stuck. However, with a “moral compass” such as God, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed; getting unstuck is easier.

By usage the word discrimination has had attached to it a negative connotation, after the fact of decision making. It need not be so, but it has occurred. Originally, discrimination and decision meant the same thing, as here used.

Speaking in generalities about discrimination is prone to error. Get the specifics!

Come Election Day, as well as you can, know all the factors, decide and vote!