Self-Applied Labels & Budgets

This isn't about low self-esteem or damaged emotions. It's not about thinking we're better than we are. This is about definitions. I was talking with a friend the other day, and we were talking about what a "feminist" is. It was then that I realize terms such as "feminist," "Christian," "liberal," "conservative," "spiritual," and so many others are self-applied labels. Even though Webster gives terms denotations, they mean even more than their connotations.

People considering themselves feminists can range from man-hating women who believe dominance, not equality, should be the goal of womankind to women who want all people and viewpoints, not just women and our issues, to have an equal chance to be heard and considered. Similarly, people considering themselves Christians can range in belief from "Bible-thumping" believers to those who believe Christ's love has to extend beyond the rigid boundaries of modern religious practices.

One point of this realization is that the nature of language is fluid; while it can be precise, it is always changing as our lives attach different experiences to certain words. We choose whether or not we are comfortable with the term "feminist" or "republican" not only based on what the dictionary says, but also based on the way the term is perceived by others. I know many people who make a distinction between being a "Christ-follower" and a "Christian," because Christians in America have such a bad reputation. They do not want people to associate them with the hypocritical and judgmental people who seem to wear blinders and miss those in need. Instead, they agree with Gandhi when he said "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians."

Since labels are fluid, one has to wonder what good they can do. Yes, labels such as "republican" and "democrat" can give voters a clue as to where certain candidates stand, but no chunk of society can entirely agree on all of the issues in a party's platform. Similarly, writing off a "feminist" group because they do not fit your assumptions about feminism (and are therefore not "feminists") or because they use the same term as a radical group with which you disagree does more harm than good.

With the financial stalemates going on at the state and national levels, we have to wonder if our congressmen and women are simply following our lead. When we write off half of the country as a label, refuse to think for ourselves, blame "them" for our problems, and penalize anyone on election day who would dare to "waver" from strict party lines, can we really complain when they refuse to budge?

In a political system that forces candidates to choose labels and appeal to the extremists to simply receive the nomination, can we blame them for acting the way our entire society operates?