I love labeling...not.
Don't you just love labels? I mean, if it weren't for labels, how in the world would anyone know that the coffee you just bought is hot? Or that you shouldn't put diesel fuel in a gasoline-engine vehicle? Or that the mattress you bought should only have that tag on it removed by the consumer?
***side note...ok, how many of you have read that tag, then hesitated to actually remove it, because you weren't sure if you were the consumer or not?
So now that we are in the transition period from one administration to a different administration, the labels come out. Actually, the labels were out in full force during the whole election cycle. Racists, bigots, socialists, yada yada yada. Because you/I support a particular candidate, then you/I have to be (insert label here).
Almost as amusing to me as the concepts people have about folks that live in a particular part of the city. "Oh, you live on the Southside...you must be...." (again, insert a label here). Seriously? Because somebody owns/rents a home in a particular part of town... patently absurd? Absolutely. Happen all the time? Absolutely.
Then there are those who are horrified/shocked/got their undies in a twist when our president-elect does something that nobody else has done. You can almost here the collective gasps and whispers (or not so much whispers) from both sides of the traditional aisle. "He can't do that!"
Granted, I wasn't very much involved in the political process this time around -- just too much going on -- but I find it just plain confounding that anyone is surprised when the president-elect does things that NObody else would think of doing. Perhaps folks didn't catch this, but in my opinion...that's a primary reason he got elected. He is not "establishment", he is not "same old stuff, different day", he is not going to follow the political playbook, or play by all the "rules" that the political establishment has played by for decades. In my opinion, he resonated with those in this country that are simply not willing to keep doing things the same old way, regardless of who is in the White House. Now, granted, the President has checks and balances...they're called the Congress and the Supreme Court. And neither of those extremely-ingrained institutions are simply going to rubber-stamp things for this "outsider". But as I see it, the fact that Mr. Trump is an "outsider" to the political realm is what drew people to him. I think that was one of the things that drew people to Mr. Sanders, too. Unfortunately, Mr. Sanders is still seen by some as being a part of "the system", since he has been a Senator. And he was seen by others as being too socialistic, and that carried its own connotation that pushed some folks away.
But that anyone is surprised or shocked that Mr. Trump would do things differently than anyone who has ever been elected to the presidency before...I mean, that's kinda like putting a cat into a dog pound, and expecting the cat to act like a dog. Probably not gonna happen.
Back to my thoughts on "labeling". Before any of us go tossing labels at people, simply because of who they may have or may have not voted for, don't you think it might be a good idea to actually know the person? I mean, the individual that we are attempting to "label". Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I voted for Mrs. Clinton. Does that mean I'm a member of the mob? Or that I have a secret agreement with foreign governments? Or that I would support either of those types of arrangements? Of course not. Those who know me well know I would not be a part of any such ridiculous activities, nor would I support them or tolerate them. OK, again for the sake of argument, if I voted for Mr. Trump, does that automatically mean I am racist, or a bigot, or a fascist, or that I am any of the labels that folks associated with him are routinely called? Again, I would suggest you speak to people who know me well and have been close associates of me for years. They would tell you that I will not tolerate racism or any of that ilk around me.
Do I support people's right to have different viewpoints? Absolutely. But I will not support people who insist on trying to label individuals with a broad brush simply because they have different viewpoints.
I have always been, and will always be a strong proponent of freedom. I'm always drawn back to the delicate balance that is stated in our state motto: "Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain."
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. God-given, re-stated in our Declaration, these are the rights I will always support and defend, both individually and collectively.
I'm just surprised that people are surprised, I guess.
My two cents worth, today.
***side note...ok, how many of you have read that tag, then hesitated to actually remove it, because you weren't sure if you were the consumer or not?
So now that we are in the transition period from one administration to a different administration, the labels come out. Actually, the labels were out in full force during the whole election cycle. Racists, bigots, socialists, yada yada yada. Because you/I support a particular candidate, then you/I have to be (insert label here).
Almost as amusing to me as the concepts people have about folks that live in a particular part of the city. "Oh, you live on the Southside...you must be...." (again, insert a label here). Seriously? Because somebody owns/rents a home in a particular part of town... patently absurd? Absolutely. Happen all the time? Absolutely.
Then there are those who are horrified/shocked/got their undies in a twist when our president-elect does something that nobody else has done. You can almost here the collective gasps and whispers (or not so much whispers) from both sides of the traditional aisle. "He can't do that!"
Granted, I wasn't very much involved in the political process this time around -- just too much going on -- but I find it just plain confounding that anyone is surprised when the president-elect does things that NObody else would think of doing. Perhaps folks didn't catch this, but in my opinion...that's a primary reason he got elected. He is not "establishment", he is not "same old stuff, different day", he is not going to follow the political playbook, or play by all the "rules" that the political establishment has played by for decades. In my opinion, he resonated with those in this country that are simply not willing to keep doing things the same old way, regardless of who is in the White House. Now, granted, the President has checks and balances...they're called the Congress and the Supreme Court. And neither of those extremely-ingrained institutions are simply going to rubber-stamp things for this "outsider". But as I see it, the fact that Mr. Trump is an "outsider" to the political realm is what drew people to him. I think that was one of the things that drew people to Mr. Sanders, too. Unfortunately, Mr. Sanders is still seen by some as being a part of "the system", since he has been a Senator. And he was seen by others as being too socialistic, and that carried its own connotation that pushed some folks away.
But that anyone is surprised or shocked that Mr. Trump would do things differently than anyone who has ever been elected to the presidency before...I mean, that's kinda like putting a cat into a dog pound, and expecting the cat to act like a dog. Probably not gonna happen.
Back to my thoughts on "labeling". Before any of us go tossing labels at people, simply because of who they may have or may have not voted for, don't you think it might be a good idea to actually know the person? I mean, the individual that we are attempting to "label". Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I voted for Mrs. Clinton. Does that mean I'm a member of the mob? Or that I have a secret agreement with foreign governments? Or that I would support either of those types of arrangements? Of course not. Those who know me well know I would not be a part of any such ridiculous activities, nor would I support them or tolerate them. OK, again for the sake of argument, if I voted for Mr. Trump, does that automatically mean I am racist, or a bigot, or a fascist, or that I am any of the labels that folks associated with him are routinely called? Again, I would suggest you speak to people who know me well and have been close associates of me for years. They would tell you that I will not tolerate racism or any of that ilk around me.
Do I support people's right to have different viewpoints? Absolutely. But I will not support people who insist on trying to label individuals with a broad brush simply because they have different viewpoints.
I have always been, and will always be a strong proponent of freedom. I'm always drawn back to the delicate balance that is stated in our state motto: "Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain."
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. God-given, re-stated in our Declaration, these are the rights I will always support and defend, both individually and collectively.
I'm just surprised that people are surprised, I guess.
My two cents worth, today.
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