"Bubbling up in our own good time-- online."
Groundwaters Publishing, LLC
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Volume 6 Issue 3
Page 5
Page 5
As I begin to write this I have just finished watching the memorial service for Senator
Ted Kennedy. Having officiated at end-of-life memorial services, I know of the bias
that is often apparent in such events, the “need” to show respect by speaking only of
the good in a person’s life. Nevertheless, I was deeply touched by the personal
stories that friends, colleagues and family shared, revealing a depth and breadth of
Teddy beyond that which I thought I knew. As I reflect on these “revelations” I look
back on the time in my life when I was driven by my personal “fundamentalist ultra-
conservative perspective” and of the negative view I had then of the Senator. And, I
am aware of how my perceptions and perspectives have since moderated – to the
extent that even before today, I had come to see Senator Kennedy in a slightly
different light. While I could not agree with many of his views and his agenda, I came
to see another side of the man and to respect his heartfelt intentions, his deep caring
and respect for others, all others.
As the memorial came to an end, I was struck by the thought of how little I really
know of others and, how much of what I think we know is often little more than labels
affixed by others. The old saying came to mind, You can’t judge a book by its cover. I
recognize there is a certain wisdom in that and am therein called to rethink my
thoughts about other people … especially when the primary descriptor is a negative
label of some kind. Our vocabulary is pregnant with labels like Black, White,
Republican, Democrat, Right, Left, Conservative and Liberal …labels which so often
serve to hide the greater truths of the who and what of a person.
I wonder how many people I have come to know primarily by labels that others have
placed on them. People, all people I think, are significantly more than the sum of all
labels others have placed on them. I wonder how life would change if I was able to
toss aside the seeming need to make labels?
Ted Kennedy. Having officiated at end-of-life memorial services, I know of the bias
that is often apparent in such events, the “need” to show respect by speaking only of
the good in a person’s life. Nevertheless, I was deeply touched by the personal
stories that friends, colleagues and family shared, revealing a depth and breadth of
Teddy beyond that which I thought I knew. As I reflect on these “revelations” I look
back on the time in my life when I was driven by my personal “fundamentalist ultra-
conservative perspective” and of the negative view I had then of the Senator. And, I
am aware of how my perceptions and perspectives have since moderated – to the
extent that even before today, I had come to see Senator Kennedy in a slightly
different light. While I could not agree with many of his views and his agenda, I came
to see another side of the man and to respect his heartfelt intentions, his deep caring
and respect for others, all others.
As the memorial came to an end, I was struck by the thought of how little I really
know of others and, how much of what I think we know is often little more than labels
affixed by others. The old saying came to mind, You can’t judge a book by its cover. I
recognize there is a certain wisdom in that and am therein called to rethink my
thoughts about other people … especially when the primary descriptor is a negative
label of some kind. Our vocabulary is pregnant with labels like Black, White,
Republican, Democrat, Right, Left, Conservative and Liberal …labels which so often
serve to hide the greater truths of the who and what of a person.
I wonder how many people I have come to know primarily by labels that others have
placed on them. People, all people I think, are significantly more than the sum of all
labels others have placed on them. I wonder how life would change if I was able to
toss aside the seeming need to make labels?
| The Philosopher's Corner: Beyond the Label By Jimminy Cricket |