We are introduced to
our world through sound in the beginning. Our mother's womb allows vibrations
to penetrate the protective sack like nothing else can, save the nutrients she
provides. From these vibrations we become acquainted with the outside; and when
we're born sound is the first thing we experience clearly. Eventually our
brains can grasp what is going on and the chaotic rhythm of life forms into
manageable compartmentalized associations that help us cope with the myriad of
options before us. Words enter our schematic of the universe and these words
become labels for the intrinsic, mundane, specific, beloved, and desired. In
fact, we would not be able to succeed, prosper, and potentially enjoy the
societies in which we live without the basis of labeling quite literally
everything; though a few intellectuals might enjoy discovering the unlabeled...
so they can label it. As we grow and learn, experiencing the various modes of
life on this precious planet we call Earth, certain connotations creep into language
further coloring our Verse with little judgments that express our ideology,
morals, and, most importantly, our Self.
The given designation
we call a Name is the simplest, a priori
transition into labels humans come across. It's usually the first thing to
which a baby responds after many days/weeks of repetition and engagement. This
name, however, does not give us our identity, but rather creates an Identity
Space empty of the person. Because my name is Josh does not mean I josh people
or am a josher by nature, though jovial and jocular utterances do engage my
communities in laughter frequently enough; my identity is larger than one word
or phrase or label. Life introduces us to many labels that we cannot choose:
our gender, race, sexual orientation, age, etc. Over time humans discover what
factors in life associate them with defining words: a job, a social group,
fields of studies, and even relationships; and even these descriptions of the
self are not guaranteed depending on region/state/country in which one might
reside. Then there are the self-chosen labels that we identify with: religion,
politics, and regional affiliations. We call ourselves Democrats or
Republicans, invoking all the denoted and connoted meanings to these
qualifiers. We set ourselves as this sect or another of Christianity and set
boundaries that group others within that specific label. We believe region sets
us apart from other humans because cultures differ between mountain, swamp, or
island inhabitants. But these are all words created by humans to help us
understand what we see, feel, taste, hear, and comprehend. What if it's all
really just meaningless babble?
It can't be
meaningless because you would not be building greater concepts through my words
if meaning were absent. The image of a cup -- yep, that one that just popped
into your head -- is brought forth because the word "Cup" has an
undeniable meaning attached to it. Perhaps this is why we label ourselves like
processed food. One serving of Josh comes with a healthy view of Pagan
ideologies, a small dosage of fiscal conservatism, heavy portions of social
progress, a coating of Green Party propaganda; injected with college education
in Literature and Astro-Physics, music appreciation, culinary ingenuity,
artistic ambitions; less than 2% moody, judgmental, irrational, conspiracy
theorist, etc. Do not take if Close-Minded, Judgmental, Homophobic, Racist,
etc. Would this mentality disrupt the abhorrence for the other in society, by
putting forward all our identity ingredients for those to choose whether or not
to engage? I think not, merely because this would give the judger an automatic
right to judge based on the facts of your existence. Remember my warning: Do
not take if [fill in the blank]. We already judge people based off labels.
Doctors are seen as intelligent to some because the title Doctor comes with
years of education. But we also question whether Doctors are educated
thoroughly (they study pharmaceuticals and their effect on health, not a full degree
in bodily health). We judge people based off age (too young, must be wet behind
the ears), gender (women aren't as strong as men), "race," and
ethnicity. This is so second nature by this point we can barely notice the
difference between a simple label (i.e. cup) apart from the more intricately
laced labels (i.e. gay).
In order to label
something we have to distinguish its difference from other objects. Human
nature till this point has been to analyze for "goodness," a property
of inherent wealth corresponding with desire, necessity, or social status, and
thus judge separate it from others by this designation. Our daily practice is
to analyze driving patterns, nutritional information, and social morals,
amongst other things. America is currently in the heat of a label war within
its own borders: Republicans and Democrats vying for justice against a backlash
against liberal ideology present under a conservative Democratic presidency.
The labels have interfered with relationships, at least in my world. My
conservative extended family through my partner voted for President-Elect Trump
(a label that sours my mind, squelches my heart, and demeans some respect I
might have assigned that role in our nation) and has repeatedly approached us
with words of wisdom, consolation, and misunderstanding. They've labeled us as
"inexperienced" politically (overlooking academic studies in
Political Science and sitting on a Congressional Advisory Committee), as
"whiny liberals," as "misinformed." Rather than looking
beyond their own label as Republicans to see what comes with the package of a
Trump presidency (support from terrorists groups like the KKK, Neo-Nazis,
Extremist Christians) and correlating that with our reactions to such an
election turn out. But even here I have labeled entire groups of people with
the same mindset, which is absurd. These are, however, the regular thought
patterns which stem from the simplest of labels which assigns us a sense of
pride, segregating us in our own prejudices, unable to grow from the lack of
connection.
Pride is what helps us
feel comfortable in our own labels, and I don't mean to say we shouldn't be
proud of who we are. We must be careful with our labels, with the words we
choose to associate with our being. Words are power: they create feeling, memory,
experience. When we start piling on meanings to words, expanding them to
encompass a large survey rather than the individual, we lose the Truth. As
Eckhart Tolle so elegantly states:
The word God has become empty of meaning through thousands
of years of misuse. By misuse, I mean that people who have never glimpsed the
realm of the sacred, the vastness behind that word, use it with great
conviction, as if they knew what they are talking about. Or they argue against
it, as if they knew what it is they are denying. This misuse gives rise to
absurd beliefs, assertions, and egoic delusions, such as "My or our God is
the only true God, and your God is false," or Nietzche's famous statement,
"God is dead."
Before you label yourself, ensure you know what your labels
really mean. And before you confront the ideology behind another label, make
sure you know what it means for the labeled. This will help banish the
confusion and misinterpretation of actions by individuals because our
expectations of them won't be misguided by our own prejudice.
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Know your Labels. Know
your Words. Know your Verse.
