small steps bring big hopes

"I am doing things that are true to me. The only thing I have a problem with is being labelled." - Johnny Depp

 

Sometime last week I was graced by a rare (and appreciated) conversation with a dear friend of mine, at some point we came to people's need to label and how dishonouring it is. My argument was that regardless of ones determination in their individuality, who they are, who they want to be etc, unless surrounded by like-minded people, sometimes its not so easy to ignore the pressures of society and succumb to their mundane labels or to make the drones of the mortals cease, throw a more imaginative one of your own their way. 

 

Labelling: [verb]: Assign to a category, especially inaccurately or restrictively.

Labelling is a strange collection of various emotions and reactions to names we are often inadequately designated to. Labelling not only deeply disregards people's individuality but more often than not is a callous derogatory term used to hurt said person or people.

The first article on the universal declaration of human rights is as follows; 

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."

 The vicious cycle of cruelty is like a man with worms, his appetite to infect others with his prejudice is never satisfied. How can we expect our loved ones to be treated with respect when we do not offer strangers with the same respect? Who are we to allow someone's words harm us when we ourselves judge others? (it counts, even if not said out loud) How can we parade a hope for unity and love if we cannot embrace our own brothers and sisters?


Labelling may seem a small issue in a world of many other brutal realities, but we can't honestly expect to inspire change if our own minds, in our own worlds, amongst our own people cannot show others what we expect to be shown. 


Article two of the human rights declaration reads as follows;


"Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."

Nobody can change overnight, by sowing love, we will reap love, and through love comes respect. Everything one step at a time.