Is it just me or are everything and everyone getting labels lately. More often than not, the labels are intended to be negative and divisive. No need for a list, because I am sure that the reader knows at least some of the ones that might be listed.
Of what values are labels in our society other than to create an “us versus them” divide. I’m going to be blunt, here, and say: “Get over it folks!” We are serving no value to one another if all we do is highlight our differences. I have seen the argument, “why do I have to try to understand them?” Why? Because they are your neighbor! Community divided is not community.
I am not popular with this outlook, but I stand by my opinion that protests are nonproductive. Yes, they allow the marginalized to “be heard”—maybe. But, I don’t see that protests solve any problems until the parties involved take a seat together at the table. “Community” implies communication.
I am pretty middle-of-the-road politically. I know this because I am quite capable of “offending” both extremes. This is a challenge for me, because, desiring to be “well-centered”, I want to be understanding and promote healthy relationships.
Where does politics and social division fit within the well-centered model? If you look around our communities, today, there is no fit at all. Writing this post, I am struggling to be a model of well-centeredness. I am not sure that it will be perceived as such. I don’t like to be called out when I fall short of my desired conduct, so I am sure there are readers who are feeling “called out.” I want to say, though, that we should feel this discomfort from time to time. It is healthy—if we take it to heart.
I wish I had the solutions to societies ills. Maybe our problems stem from our decreasing sense of interdependence and our manufactured social isolation—you know, being a room full of people not talking but rather texting and tweeting someone else. It occurred to me as I sat to write this that the handshake has gone to make way for the “fist bump”. Maybe I am just getting old, but I miss the handshake. There is a connection made when two people shake hands. You can read something about the other person by the firmness of his or her grip. There is a risk to shaking hands—did he or she wash the hands?? I am not much of a germaphobe, so it doesn’t bother me in the least. (In making this connection, I consider also the impact of exposure on building the immune system, which, in my opinion, strengthens the analogy and underscores the importance of coming together in close community.) There is a level of commitment in shaking hand. For a moment, two are joined in unity.
We are never going to move together as a community if we don’t make an effort to understand one another. We will never understand one another without open communication.
Communication is an act in two parts. It requires speaking and listening (not simply hearing). Communication must come from a well-centered approach—with consideration of the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social dimensions.
Labels? I started with labels. Let’s stop labeling people the purposes of categorizing “us” and “them”. Let’s welcome everyone to the table, leave our smart phones at the door and communicate.
Carpe momento!