Label Cans, Not People
I was reading something one day when I came across one word – one little word – and it was as though I had an epiphany. It was the word invalid. The word happened to be on the instruction sheet that came with my brand new disability parking permit that I used for a limited time pre- and post-surgery.
The context of the word, in-val-id (in-ˈva-ləd), meant not useful or authoritative. The instructions made it clear that if the permit was damaged, unreadable, etc. that it would become invalid. In other words, it wouldn’t be of any use anymore; it would “lose its effectiveness and authority.”
Hmm, I thought; if the disability permit were to be injured, it would be an in-va-lid (ˈin-və-ləd) just like me; meaning suffering from a disease or disability (illegible in its case). Immediately I became unnerved. Little did I know I had just run into a heteronym – two words that are spelled the same, have different meanings, and sound different.
If one used those definitions interchangeably, well, that wouldn’t be right at all.
However, I instantly felt the conspiracy theorist in me arise. I felt defensive wondering if the wordsmiths who created these two words initially meant for the definitions to be interchangeable as well before it became politically incorrect to define a disabled person in such a terrible manner. In that case, would I be (even if temporarily) considered in-val-id (in-ˈva-ləd) or not suitable for the use I was intended for anymore? A throw-away? Something in need of replacement? The nerve!
Had invalid been on any other material I was reading other than a disability parking permit at the time, I most likely would not have made the heteronym connection. It would not have grabbed my attention at all. The parking permit triggered my heightened sensitivity after just being labeled disabled.
I think that’s precisely how many of us feel with labels, especially as we grow older. Labels can touch a nerve and make us more sensitive to what others think of us. Sensitive to stereotypes we may have bought into as a child that have laid dormant until someone comes along and labels us as old.
Wow! That’s a waker-upper for the person who has never thought of themselves as old regardless of chronological age. Being personally labeled awakens many things within us, for better or worse, labels that are deemed necessary by demographer-types.
I prefer no labels at all. I am determined to remain a person of strength, value, and worth until the day I die – despite any non-consensual labels placed on me. In fact, I think all the labels for people should be considered invalid!
- Posted in: Ageism ♦ Emotional ♦ Intellectual
- Tagged: ageism, disability, invalid, labels, old
Refined by Age 
Awesome Kathy, labels are like the adhesive on the backside the paper, they tend to stick, ouch… Regardless of the feeling that accompanies your label, remember God created us in his images, that is why when man tends to precede the equation we experience the rub you experienced.
I suppose we could re educate and change perception… That in itself is a never ending process. But it surely gives us reason.
In closing; here is a stretch of a thought –
We tend to live each day having a physical experience vs the spiritual experience that God created us for;)
Think about this; the old and sick were what priority for God? Elevated, why? The physical body is temporary… Wow! hope I did not loose you Kathy… Invalid you – we are not 😉
Your epiphany was much much more – thank you
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Good to hear from you, Terry. I always appreciate your added insights. I think we are cut from the same cloth. Blessings. Kathy
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What do they say; the world has everything we want and nothing we need… This makes the view more challenging and our response one of confidence …
It’s always a pleasure visiting your journey. Keep sharing the truth;)
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…and wants lead to temptations which are evil in disguise. (And deliver us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.) Thanks for sharing my perceptions of my journey from time to time with me, Terry. Your comments are especially appreciated. Not everyone takes the time. Life is a long and winding road full of surprises and lessons. It’s delightful to be able to write about some of the things I see along the way. Stay in touch. – Kathy
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What a great read! I agree that no one should be labeled. At the end of the day, we are all flesh and bone human beings and not products. As the saying goes, nature does not hurry yet everything is accomplished, I believe that people are starting to wake up and that labeling will end once and for all.
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I wish I could believe you that people are starting to wake up and that labeling will and once and for all. I wish as Martin Luther King Jr. said that people would be judged on their character and not their color. However, due to identity politics, I have seen labeling people going the opposite way. Equity is the opposite of what Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream was for humanity. Equality and equity are two very different matters
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I wish I could believe you that people are starting to wake up and that labeling will and once and for all. I wish as Martin Luther King Jr. said that people would be judged on their character and not their color. However, due to identity politics, I have seen labeling people going the opposite way. Equity is the opposite of what Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream was for humanity. Equality and equity are two very different matters.
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