Drop the Labels

Let’s drop the labels and use concise descriptions of characteristics, rather than blanket, dehumanizing statements.

Conservative

Conservative as a description means a person generally prefers to maintain the systems and rules that have worked to preserve human rights in the past. That’s not to say that conservative people are not open to new ideas and better ways of managing business, governing bodies, infrastructure, or alleviating social ills.

To be a conservative is misleading, especially in todays divide. The factions of society have drawn such heavy lines that artificial  intelligence (or data process programs) and social media algorithms are constantly reaffirming the ideas we have subscribed to. If you or I watch a video or listen to a podcast, click a link and read a post, that information begins to make up our ‘online persona’, whether we interact further or not.

The internet and human nature are drawn to the familiar. So, we go back to the same kinds of content, but we are also fed the same kind of content. Suggestions for contacts or what stories we’d like are just the beginning. The things we buy online make up a composite of our personality, but we are so much more than our ‘online persona’.

I know people who would identify as a conservative who are vastly different from others who would too. I know people who would cringe at the term, but their views are closely aligned with some of the most conservative people I know.

Liberal

To be liberal used to mean that you were generous and freedom loving. Now, if someone uses the label, it is often some kind of a misguided social worrier, who uses capitalist generated devices to denounce capitalism and advocate for socialism, or at least a neo-socialist state where everything is free. The only problem with that is at some point, you run out of other people’s money and labor.

I have liberal friends and liberal adult children. I understand that their hearts are often beating for the underdog, for the disenfranchised, and for their fellow humans who were not dealt a great hand. Admirable and completely understandable, because we are created with a longing for heaven. There is no crying, no tears, no fear, and no darkness at all in heaven. It is paradise. It is not attainable here on earth.

“The poor, you will have with you always,” Jesus said. If you know me, you know I don’t turn my back on the poor and I strongly believe the church should care for those less fortunate in every way possible. I do not believe that the government should take money from hard working people to fully support and sustain a system that keeps people in poverty.

Libertarian

Now, here’s a label that has to be unpacked to understand. The people I know who call themselves libertarian are hugely diverse. Liberty and freedom is in the name, but human rights are often a back burner issue. One can be quite elitist and espouse any of the modern political labels. Some of the liberty-loving people are strong advocates for personal liberty and responsibility. Some people have a very different view. They prefer, what I would call license. “Do what thou wilt.” to quote Aleister Crowley.

I believe my personal liberty ends where your natural rights begin. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are basic natural rights. So, my freedom to a camp fire is impeded, if it is going to burn your house down. Your freedom to chose which side of the street you drive on is impeded by the safety of others.

When it comes to natural rights, some people only want to protect the rights of those with whom they agree or with whom they can have a conversation, at least. Obviously, I am referring to abortion. They say things like, “If you don’t like abortion don’t have one.” Which is silly. Respecting a human being’s right to life is paramount.

We are a nation whose status as the leader of the modern world was made by pursuing honor and dignity. At which many will point out our failures. Certainly, there have been many significant failures, but also great and valiant victories in that regard. Liberty made it possible and liberty is all but lost to us now.

Democrat or Republican Labels

Even these labels are virtually useless. I used to call it the platform dance. A candidate would call themselves one or the other, and then only stand on a few planks, skipping over others. I suppose that is because we are all individuals and we don’t fit neatly into categories.

Labels don’t work. We need to find out who people are and what they stand for as individuals, both in who we want to align with and who we might stay away from. In life and in politics, we have a choice. It’s not always easy to see that, though.

As noted, if we are online at all, our experience is largely dictated and directed to feed our appetites and stimulate our desires. This comes at a great cost. If we are prone to distrust or lean one way or another, our online interactions will likely goad us in that direction. At some point, we lose sight of the vastness of our world and see only labels.

The vitriol and hatred that can be aroused in people can cause a lot of real damage. Compassion too, can be drawn from people. Great outpouring of support is sadly rare. To activate people, emotions are involved and labels tend to stimulate emotions.

Humans

Maybe we could drop the labels and see one another as unique individuals with varying opinions. It might help to create the freedom to engage in productive conversations. I’m going to work on it. How about you?