You Can’t Tell What’s in the Can by its Label
Anyone that has ever worked on a farm or ranch knows that very little gets in the trash and hauled away (just go look in the yard). That’s because in a life of self-sufficiency “that may be good for somethin’, someday.” So (except in the kitchen) that baking soda can may be a can of nails, a bunch of change, or a hand full of carbide (although we haven’t had a carbide lamp in 40 years). I’m not sure about the kitchen, after my last cook-off, I’m not allowed in there anymore. But I’m sure that’s why Gerber started makin’ baby food jars outa glass…so you could see what was inside without opening the lid.
With this universal truth about labels in mind; have you noticed that when having a discussion everyone is so quick to put a label on somebody? When trying to talk about an issue the first thing the other person tries to do is label you: a Reb, a Yankee, right wing, left wing, pro-abortion (now called choice) or pro-life, a conservative, or progressive (communist), or environmentalist or pro-horse slaughter.
I wonder if the person doing the labeling understands what they are actually doing is practicing discrimination at the highest level. See, the best way of dismissing someone is to label them as something undesirable. Be it colored (a label I saw a lot in my youth in Alabama), gook, conservative, or progressive. The label is a way of dismissing or discrediting the other person, their viewpoint, or argument as being worthless or not worthwhile.
This is called creating an emotional distance, in this case, a cultural distance. The purpose of labeling in this manner, intentionally or unintentionally, is to make it easier to attack (verbally or physically) or discriminate against the other person. A moral superiority can be thought to be obtained by one’s willingness to unfairly persecute (by labeling) based upon one’s ignorance (of what’s inside the can).
This practice of labeling has been studied and perfected throughout history as a strategy, until it has reached a level never before attained. This process is explained well in Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman’s book: On Killing, The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society. We need to use the front part of our brain to overcome this tendency to label, even though it feels like we are beatin’ the front part of our head against the barn.
Upon careful examination and thought, what appears to be simple is often very complex One’s actions can have horrible consequences, if one reacts to the label instead of knowledge of what is inside the can.
During the past election, or if you read some of the letters to the editor, or comments on the newfangled Internet news postings, you can see that the majority of the comments label and attack the person, rather than discuss the issue(s). It is a good test of wit to out label the opposing party, but it causes the wit to ricochet away from solving the issue.
Remember, every story sounds true until you hear the other side! So, if you really want to understand someone or discuss an issue you are talking about, avoid the learned reaction to immediately label the person. Use your ability to listen to what they have to say and use your figurin’ to see if the issue has merit, or if it is just another mislabeled can. Remember those around you, especially those who look up to you, are learning from your example.
You really don’t know what’s in the can until you look inside, and maybe even dig around some in the contents…that’s Cowboy Logic.