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"What's in a name?"

Updated: Feb 28, 2021

I've been writing about identity lately because I've been thinking about identity lately. For the last couple of weeks, sports media has feasted on stories about the NFL team in our nation's capital. I'll freely proclaim that I think the hype regarding the change of team nickname was intended to distract from the Washington Post's story about the failings of Redskins human resources. I'll also boldly suspect that Dan Snyder and Bruce Allen have been far more complicit &/or involved than reported. I'm surprised, maybe even disappointed, that the majority of media (that I read and listen to) write and speak as though they accept without question the two men's proposed ignorance and lack of participation. However, it's the name change that piques my interest, especially since the news came out that "Washington Football Team" will be the name for the 2020 season.


"What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet." asks Juliet in Shakespeare's famed tragedy. Separated by family ties, Romeo and his love were labeled enemies by birth. They desired their names to carry less weight, to have less significance, to not dictate emotion. Years later, the controversy surrounding the "Redskins" and other possibly offensive names has been the subject of media hype for decades. We may quote Shakespeare when it suits us, but I imagine most of us are fairly attached to the names of people and things. Names do carry weight and significance; names do dictate emotion. We have specific reasons for naming our children. Most of us have learned the meaning for the name our parents gave us and have an opinion on it. Some will argue that a person's name even informs their personhood.


"Say the names." This sentence became a rallying cry for those heartbroken and empathetic to the plight of African American victims of irresponsible police tactics. Using a person's name honors them, separates them from a group, promotes them above statistics and uniquely shows affection. Saying someone's name communicates familiarity. When someone knows our name, it feels good. Yet, Shakespeare's question lingers. What's in a name? A name is an identifier. Is a name an identity?


For the sake of this column, we'll agree that a name is a label. We speak as though we don't like labels because we don't want to be relegated to how we interpret the label. We sometimes label ourselves, however, because we do like how we interpret the label. We identify each other by labels, as well, but most of us would say we don't like it. A very current and popular way we identify each other is by political affiliation. We use labels like red, blue, conservative, liberal, right, left and variations on the themes. We'd probably agree that the labels are not accurate representations of a person's perspective on policies, but we act like they are. Since it's an election year, the weight we place on political labels seems to have risen to the level of names.


I consider my own responsibility regarding politics (the affairs of the state), labels and my name. I'm Caleb, meaning dog, and like a dog faithfully follows its master, I'm committed to mine. I label myself Christian (follower of the Christ, anointed Messiah) which IS an identity, not just an identifier. This informs my opinions on the affairs of the state and my involvement. I usually lean toward policy that is generous and helpful to the people, instead of helpful to a person. I often agree with policy from the left and the right. I often disagree with policy from either, as well.


Earlier this week, in a conversation about Christian responsibility regarding media and politics, I pondered how the world's too big to expect that we, God's people, can make disciples outside of our immediate circles, virtual or proximate. Human desire to know information and meddle distracts from our goal. Uninformed or misinformed, all media is a distraction. Christ's bride needs not politics for we are a Holy nation, priests between them and God, light in the darkness. Holiness is our platform, forgiveness our currency, righteousness our defense and His Word in love our weapon. Let's not concern ourselves with what we're called. Let's concern ourselves with what they call Him.

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