LOVE WINS FRIDAY - SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

 LOVE WINS - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

LABELS - LOVE VERSUS HATE

LABELS:

To me, it is easy to hate somebody (although, I try never to hate!!).  It is easy to put a label on somebody.  In this political year, labels are everywhere.  In my area (Georgetown Texas), local candidates either can’t afford television advertisements or don’t consider such ads the best use of their advertising dollar.  Therefore the biggest political advertisements locally are yard signs.  Now, you can’t really describe yourself and the reasons you are running for office on a yard sign.  So, most yard signs have the name (in large letters for easier identification at the polling place), and a couple of labels.  The most common labels are “Conservative”, or “Progressive”.  (“Liberal” is not a good term in Central Texas - liberals are East Coast left-wing socialists).  

My county (Williamson County) is just north of Austin.  Austin is in Travis County.  Austin is considered a Democratic county and Williamson is considered a Republican County.  But, there have been Republicans elected in Travis and Democrats elected in Williamson - but generally, the party of preference tends to win.  

So, in Williamson County, the third (or maybe second) most popular label is “Republican” candidate for <office>.  For many people, this is aligned with the Republican party and thus you don’t really need to know what they stand for.   On the other side in Williamson County, Democratic candidates don’t put their party affiliation on their signs.

And, as happens most places, the incumbents generally have name recognition and thus have a better chance at re-election.  So, how does a challenger get name recognition?  Using a label that might somehow squeeze into a person’s brain.  

But, labels aren’t really true.  A conservative might be a liberal on certain topics (like taxing higher-income people more).  A liberal might be a conservative on certain topics (like protecting the land).

*****

LIKEWISE WITH LOVE AND HATE.

Does the word “LOVE” have any meaning left?  “I love McDonald’s Burgers” is up against, “”I love justice and mercy”.  “I love you” is up against “I lust for you” (but you catch more flies with honey rather than vinegar). 

To me, LOVE means agape love from a religious perspective.  When I write “LOVE WINS,”  I think I am implying that ultimately good will triumph over evil.  

Labels can be defeating.  If I identify myself as a “Christian”, am I going to offend non-Christians?  And, definitely, if I label myself as a “transgender woman”, that slams a lot of doors.  If I label myself as “White”, does that offend non-white individuals?  In the past, I could have labeled myself as a “White, middle-class, American, Christian, male Professor.” And, that might scream “toxic white male” to some people.  I’m guessing that a black student coming into my class on the first day might have some mental reservations.   (I, at times, was chagrined that my initials at that point were BA White (as in - “be a white”).

We LOVE labels (not the type of love for LOVE WINS).  

*****

I like this little poem by Edwin Markham

““He drew a circle that shut me out-

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But love and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle and took him In!”

*****

Labels draw circles that divide us - such as “Congratulations, you are IN our circle”; or “Go Away - you are NOT in our circle”.  

The label “American, White, Male, Christian”; - are you part of our group?

Label “Loving, compassionate, forgiving, all-inclusive, individual” - are you a part of this group - and if you really don’t fit the terms, that is alright - you still are ‘one of us’ - because all of us are included!!!

*****

Let me finish today with some thoughts from Richard Rohr - American Theologian - respected on many sides - a Franciscan Priest:

God cannot abide with us in a place of fear.

God cannot abide with us in a place of ill will or hatred.

God cannot abide with us inside a nonstop volley of claim and counterclaim.

God cannot abide with us in an endless flow of online punditry and analysis.

God cannot speak inside of so much angry noise and conscious deceit.

God cannot be found when all sides are so far from “the voice”

God cannot be born except in a womb of Love.

So offer God that womb.

Stand as a sentry at the door of your senses for these coming months, so “the blood-dimmed tide” cannot make its way into your soul.

If you allow it for too long, it will become who you are, and you will no longer have natural access to the “really deep well” that is inside us and keeps us from fear.

*****

LOVE DOES WIN!!!

HUGS!!

Karen