I purposely avoided posting during the months leading up to the election. I found that every time I started discussing politics, I would become agitated. Even inwardly hostile. And I don't like feeling like that. It was undermining my ability to love people. So I didn't post.
I was (foolishly) looking forward to November 5th. I was so excited to greet the end of the name-calling and blanket statements and lie-based email forwards.
It is now November 15, and it hasn't stopped. Palin is still doing public speaking and making jabs at the president-elect. Words like "fascist" and "anti-Christ" and "terrorist" are still being thrown around by the populace. Labels precede given names:
convicted felon Senator Ted Stevens, and
openly-gay Representive Barney Frank. And I am sad.
In my classroom, I place an emphasis on using our given names. Names are linked to identity. In the Bible, names carried so much meaning and weight. I mean, the LORD changed Abram's name to Abraham when He entered into a covenant with Abraham. Jesus called his disciples by name. I was named after my dad. My grandpa's middle name is the name of the uncle who fetched the doctor during a blizzard so my grandpa could be born. Name-calling is dehumanizing and is an announcement saying "I do not value you enough to use your name. You are unimportant to me." My students know the name of the custodian who cleans our room... she is no longer "the trash lady," she is Jen, an important, wonderful woman who deserves to be called by name.
I wish that the Christians who are participating in so much mud-slinging and name-calling would acknowledge the humanity of those to whom they refer. Don't call Palin a pit-bull. Her name is Sarah Palin. Don't make links like "B-->S: Obama/Osama," or call him "the anti-Christ." His name is Barack Obama.
I challenge you: stop the name-calling. Honor the humanity and God-given specialness of His creation.
Comments (2)
*applauds*
Beautiful challenge. :)