*Note: All scriptures
will be from the New King James Version: NKJV
I just finished
watching a classic, Revenge of the Nerds
(Jeff Kanew, 1984) and it reminded me of an article that I did eons ago and so
I decided to change it a little and share.
How ignorant are we when we apply labels to people because they are
different from us? How asinine are we
when we expect children to act in a certain manner when the adults around them
are far more childish? Who are those who
love to create these labels to make themselves feel better? They are either from a privileged group
[regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender]; those of physical prowess and those
who use violence; whether they are children or adults, they are bullies. This form of bullying is one of the few
things within the American society that transcends race, ethnicity,
socioeconomic, political affiliations, age and any other societal boundaries
that usually divides us.
From a political
perspective, many of them are faux Christian conservatives or haven’t you
noticed? They are those who have nothing
to offer but hot air of divisive hyperbole.
Look at Joisey (Jersey) governor Chris Christie (he will be the subject of
another article), Sarah Palin, and Rush Limbaugh; just to name a few. Exactly what do they offer for the
edification of the American citizenry?
What examples do these faux carriers of righteous indignation present to
the children of our nation; more frighteningly, to their own? Has anyone noticed that when a progressive/liberal
gives them a dose of their own medicine, what big babies they become? I went into a store one day and started a
conversation with the young female cashier that rang up my purchases. During our conversation, she informed me that
her parents were not married when she was born and so, her grandfather told her
she was illegitimate; I was taken aback. First, because we are in the 21st century and what the hell?;
second, for those who may continue to use that term, one will find that they
cleave to their religion, no matter what it may be, yet they refute the power
of their given holy/sacred entity in the creation of life; and third, who gives
anyone the right to label someone? Children
and adults are scarred because ignorant individuals placed labels upon them;
parents, teachers, ministers, and politicians are some who fall into this category. How dare we, as a nation, even try to tell
another nation-state who and how to be when we have not solved the issues
within our own nation?
Before I continue, I
need to explain the differences between one being religious and religion versus
a spiritual state of being. The
religious [again, regardless of belief] use religion as a tool of power to
wield control, power, hate and divisiveness.
Religion and the religious are loud and arrogant in the attempt to
browbeat, in some form or manner, those who do not support their
perspective(s). They walk around
strutting like peacocks and roosters, assuming they are the enlightened ones;
and here I go labeling them for they are no more than buffoons. The Bible says “For they bind heavy burdens,
hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not
move them with one of their fingers” (Matthew 23:4). One in a spiritual state of being does not
have to announce their belief; they are those who quietly do what is requested
of them via their spiritual belief.
Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King, Jr. are fine examples, however, we
should stop and consider those who unselfishly help the homeless, the
drug-addicted, the abused, the poor and so many others on the fringes of
society without having to seek affirmation of how “good” they are. Individuals spout labels without understanding
the true meaning behind the words. Let’s
see; now one of the favorite words of narrow-minded faux Christian individuals
is “liberal” yet they fail to realize that word means to “freely give” and they
denounce their own religion in using “liberal” as a smear word. How? Well, the Bible teaches
that Heavenly Father [or GOD to many], “freely” gave His Son Jesus Christ to
save all of humanity if possible since Father is “not willing that any should
perish” (2 Peter 3:9); because “GOD so loved the world” (John 3:16) and not
just a chosen few because Father “shows no partiality” to any one group of
peoples (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; & James 2:1). Now consider the label that they cleave to;
“conservative” means “to resist or oppose any changes; tending to preserve
established traditions and/or institutions.” Not only does this description
aptly describe our current conservatives but if my memory serves me correctly,
it also describes those who opposed Jesus Christ during His time; the Pharisees
and Sadducees. Hmm, a coincidence? Methinks not.
America, your labels
hurt and they do a dis-service to your fellow human beings. Labels keep people from breaking free of
their individual prisons; it keeps children from living up to their potential;
and it keep parts of our society trapped in an economic quagmire. Labels tear
away the fabric of the soul; it arms those who are twisted in hate with
ammunition, therefore giving them more fuel for fodder for their deeds; it is
salt in the open wounds of those struggling to overcome societal stumbling
blocks, heck, labels are the stumbling block.
For shame America; the red, white, and blue is fading.
“But no man can tame
the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full
of deadly poison. With it we bless our
GOD and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude
of GOD. Out of the same mouth proceed
blessing and cursing. My brethren, these
things ought not to be so” (James 3:8-10).
