Who’s afraid of labeling?

WELL, I used to be afraid of being labelled. But I think I
have licked that fear off. I just smile and continue to talk, write or
communicate to clarify things if there are things that need
clarification. As long as the channels of communication are open, I am
game to be labelled anything.

            I have been branded before as conservative, of the ultra
kind, a rightist, a traditionalist, etc. But I have also heard some
people consider me as liberal, left-leaning, progressive. More than
anything else, I just get amused by all this. I suppose it’s part of
the enigma that each one of us actually is.

            As long as it is not name-calling, I actually don’t mind
this labelling and branding. And even if it is a case of name-calling
or some form of verbal abuse, I try to remind myself as promptly as
possible to follow Christ’s indication to offer the other cheek. What
would I get if I react tit for tat? I would just worsen the situation.

            I know pretty well that our tendency to brand, label or
stereotype people is our way of understanding a person or an issue, or
coping with a particular situation. Thus, branding and labelling is
something to be expected.

            I think we cannot and should not go around telling people
not label anyone. We would have more success with a carabao learning
math than with prohibiting people from labeling.

            That would be forcing us to live in a certain utopia. And
sad to say, we seem to have a fondness for that. We tend to escape
reality and enter into the world of denial when we are faced with its
warts and imperfections. I think this is not healthy.

            Especially when we are dealing with matters very open to
opinions and a wide range of interpretations, as in politics and
social issues, not mention, delicate matters of faith, it should not
surprise us that in our effort to simplify things, we tend to label
and brand people and the positions they espouse.

            Well, that’s a given and we just have to sort them out as
calmly and soberly as possible. No need to go ballistic, not even to
feel bad nor to harbor some resentment. Truth and fairness will just
come out sooner or later. Charity should always rule, because in the
end that is what is essential and indispensable to us.

            In our exchanges, we have to expect some misunderstandings
and misinterpretations, some rash judgments, fallacious arguments,
disproportionate emotional reactions and outburst, etc. We ourselves
can commit them. We just have to be ready for them. It’s not the end
of the world, mind you.

            We need to have a firm hold of our emotions, because they
often spoil our dialogues. They are like little children who have very
limited capacity to understand things. They are extremely choosy, if
not capricious, traits that never would figure well in any
conversation.

            We also need to be very open-minded. We have to respect
everyone’s right to express his views no matter how wrong they are or
are simply very different from ours. Let reason dominate, rather than
feelings. This way we can easily distinguish and appreciate the
different biases, preferences and options of people.

            But most importantly, let’s always be charitable, even to
the point of imitating Christ when he was sentenced to be crucified.
He just remained quiet before all the false accusations hurled on him.

            For this, we also need the required elements of humility,
simplicity, etc. I feel that only in this way can manage to negotiate
the very tricky road of understanding and loving one another, and of
resolving our unavoidable differences.

            We also have to learn the art of talking and communicating
properly, which can include the skill of choosing the right words, the
right tone, the right timing. We need to be well-grounded on the truth
that ultimately comes from our faith.

            Of course, the art of communication should also include
the skill of forming the proper argumentations and discussion. It
should also include the sensitivity to keep quiet. In this regard, it
is very helpful to reflect on the silence of Christ when he was
wrongly judged and sentenced. Many mysterious lessons can be gained
from it.

            I think we should not make a big fuss about this issue of
labeling and branding. We do it all the time. We can even call
ourselves Catholics and Christians, but can we really say we are truly
Catholics and Christians? Perhaps, yes. Perhaps, not. What’s clear is
that we are always a work in progress.