Sticks and Stones

Fascist, Liberal, Girl, Racist, Christian, Idiot, Lesbian, Republican, Work Alcoholic, Fundamentalist, Nigger Lover, Feminist, Homophobe, Bitch, Lazy Ass

These are all labels that I have been given in the past three weeks. Tone with labels usually will let people know the intent of the label. All of these words were said in the negative. How sad it makes me to hear people say these things in a harsh way. No one deserves negative labels, yet we give them to people everyday. When I’m given the label from someone that I don’t know, I can let it pretty much roll off of me most of the time. Sadly, this isn’t true for the way things have been lately. It does hurt when these names are heard over and over in my head because I also hear the intent behind them. Even if I know some of them aren’t true, I want to fix that negative impression. Heck, I want to fix that negative impression for the ones that are true as well. Some of these labels I should be proud to wear, yet there is so much hatred that others see with them. What can we do to fix this?
Then I think about the list again and wonder how people get such different views of me. I don’t try to portray myself at either extreme of the names because I’m not at extremes in most cases. Do I not let people know the real me and my real values or is this someone else’s lack of understanding? I know that I’m generally private and a protector of others, but I do not want to not be real about who I am and what I believe. People who do know me should know which of these labels can actually be applied to me. I wish that people who didn’t know me would be able to find out. Political seasons have the chance of bringing out wonderful discussions or lots of hatred. I’ve seen and experienced more of the hatred this year…and my focus was for people to vote for roads not flooding because of Ike! I knew that the presidential election didn’t matter, for whoever wasn’t republican would win. Still I’m not interested in all of that mess this year (which still makes me sad that I’m not interested) for there is so many other things going on that matter.
Even with the labels, I still have to move on with life. It is like that Wemmicks' story. If I will focus on God daily, then the labels will not stick. I will be happier and more focused. God will keep me shiny despite the scuff marks of the labels.
So that is what this _________ person is doing.