I feel that labeling far too often leads to exclusion instead of true unity.
Yes, labeling can bring us great unity... with people just like us. If you are in the "Christian community", you bond with other Christians and learn about Christian culture and doctrines. If you are in the "black community" you bond with other members, find resources specific to your race, learn about your culture, etc. If you are in the "GLBT community", you bond with other people in the community, fight together against discrimination, help one another out, etc.
But there is a downside... exclusion. It seems like somehow once we've labeled ourselves, we begin to see those who are NOT labeled like us as a seperate entity. "If you are not __(Insert race, religion, political thingy, etc.)_, you're not like me. There is nothing I can learn from you, and no value in connecting with you."
It also makes it SO much easier to hate others when they're not individuals with faces... just a vague group of people who are obviously different from (and most likely inferior to) the group I'm labeled as.
That's probably the most important thing to me about my blog. I want it to be a place where EVERYONE can chat and feel welcome. I want it to be a place where we can hang out and meet each other, discuss things, learn about one another... no matter who you are, who you love, what you believe, or where you're from, I want you to feel welcomed and loved here.
6 comments:
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Woohoo! Blessed be sistah! I really believe in this as well and am so happy there are fantastic women like you out there who embrace diversity of all kinds.
Great post Jana! We had a similar discussion at work (although not so open!) because of a political disagreement. One of my co-workers is quite conservative, while the rest of us in the office are quite liberal. She wanted to tell us something about a show she watches, but the rest of us really dislike this show (political "news" show). We weren't open to listening, and that included me! Yikes!
Thanks for the reminder to be open to ALL points of view. It's hard to do that sometimes!
I wanted relay to a cute little story.
Many years ago, my niece, whom I will call "Stormie" was standing outside a parking lot with my mom. When a man walked up and started talking to my mom, he looked down and asked "Stormie" "Are you Mexican?" And for a 5-year-old, this was great, she responded with "No, I am just Stormie." Amen!!
Mission accomplished. :) And I totally agree! Labels stink!
I'm labled a Nam Vet and I really don't mind, but a lot of people do...
Woody
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