Labeling (Final)

Ross Beattie

Labeling-

Faggot, Dike, Gay, Bitch, Slut, Stupid (etc..) All senseless and horrible labels which we use freely in our society.  All humanity is taken out when someone uses hurtful labels.

 Hatred is born with ignorance and I’d like to point out that our media and pop culture is ignorant and spreading hate when using hurtful labels.  I believe one of the biggest problems is how our media and pop culture spits out these senseless labels on TV, magazines, movies (etc...) 

When labels, such as the ones already pointed out are used frequently we start to naturally begin a resistance to the hurtful phrases.

One of the earliest memories I recall that dealt with being labeled and made fun of, is when I first moved to my new school.  I was in third grade and I had been unluckily paired with the class bully in my music class.  I remember him making fun of me and calling me gay.  I was old enough to know what it meant to be gay, but growing up in a strict conservative family, I did not believe it was a real thing to be gay.  I think this was the first time I had been called gay, and at that point in my life I had perceived being gay as a negative thing.  He then told me that there was no such thing as gay people but that gay meant happy.  I remember feeling confused and uncomfortable with the conversation, as a few people from our class were listening on in.  He then asked me if I was gay, and I quickly answered “No!”  He then asked me “why aren’t you happy?”  As I was now becoming more uncomfortable, and with hopes of getting him to be quiet I answered “Yes, I am gay...”  Everyone around began to laugh and call me gay or a faggot.  I cannot remember a time when I felt so low and uncomfortable. 

  When children are the ones beginning to use these hurtful words without feelings of remorse or understanding, is when hate is created.  We must stop labeling in our society because even if the label is meant as a joke, you never know who you are going to upset.   

(Just a comment: In no way is this blog meant to portray being gay as a bad thing!  I just wanted to share a personal story of when I was labeled and how it was used in a negative way to make me feel bad.)