Labels lead to global chaos

Perhaps the world would have been better off without labels. Lest you wonder what all this means, let's start from the very beginning - to be precise, from the dawn of creation when man supposedly was in blissful ignorance. To deviate a little bit from my topic....How come the dawn of creation projected as very holy and sublime a highly sanctified state was followed by barbaric man only to be replaced by what is called civilised man. If the first argument is convincing, the second is skeptical... needless to speak of the third which credentials are appalling.

To this end labels have contributed significantly in projecting constructed reality as absolute truth. Considering the world in its unsullied state right from the time of what science calls the 'Big Bang' followed by the first human pair, there was to begin with no language. So many billions of years later it was the social constructors who labelled them as Adam and Eve - their children as Abel and Cain. If mankind's that first ever union was seen as a sinful act, the labelling that followed in all human activity be it social/political/economic/cultural whatever is unforgivable.

'Civilizational' cloak

As societies advanced and man supposedly put on his 'civilizational' cloak, he ran into an erroneous belief of integrity over preceding generations. Institutions of the past were compatible in concept and practice unlike whatever contradictions there may be today.

In other words, only labels remain of concepts resulting in 'grand discourse' starting workshops that end up in talk shops, summits with limitless fun of foreign trips for ruling elite, sumptuous lunches dinners and cruises down scenic lakes and not to forget those international conferences where only verbal assurances are conferred of peace, caring and sharing. The poor meanwhile get poorer, the rich richer, anarchism is widespread and many resort to deviance in money making both nationally and internationally. Corrupt bureaucrats arms and drug manufacturers and traders, dishonest politicians quite unmindful of their sinful acts wallow in ill-gotten luxury at the expense of the poor only to disown them. The rich/poor, the developed/undeveloped/under developed/least developed/first world/third world and what other worlds one never knows with the exception of the newest entry-other worldly are inter-alia economic labels floating around where highbrow economists decide which to fit in where, yet little or nothing at all done to resolve widening disparities between people and nations. Such labelling is also seen in super class flights and luxury liners - of economy class/business class and some other perhaps for lesser mortals. The cream of affluence never mind how they attained their riches gain greater social respect while poverty is frowned upon. Then there is also the corporate giant that put out products termed 'up market' exclusively for the affordable class. This in itself reflects to what extent the rich are taken care of be it in flight, on board and on land. Only star performers in the economic front have access to star studded hotels which are again categorised A/B/C whatever. "Poverty is my pride" said the Prophet of Islam never mind the importance his membership places on fiscal vibrancy. Lo and behold if you are not in the upper echelons of the financial layout, be sure to be labelled 'miskin' or 'sillara' poor/riff raff - 'pauper' 'Hinganna' being its English and Sinhala equivalent all of which social labellings depending on what economic label one bears.

Social ladder

Also to be remembered are the private/public funerals - an outcome of one's socio/economic placement. To remain down the social ladder as a result of honesty invites no prestige unlike the stinking riches coming off ill gotten wealth.

In the social sphere for instance within the family, labellings could include 'stubborn, black-sheep, tomboy for the non conformist child-the last incidentally being of gender. In Sinhala, terms such as 'Murandu, Naaheta Ahan Nethi Eka' are widespread. Societal regard is for those who are seen as obedient, quiet and unassuming. Women are viewed as knaive whose brains are described as being shorter than the wooden spoon's ladle and if not for their nose it is believed would even eat biological discharge the Sinhala expression of which is rendered in full gusto.

Some mothers particularly of the earlier generation saw the belligerent child as unstirred 'kiri hodi'. Belief coming off the kitchen is that a tasty kiri hodi cannot come about should the potful remain unstirred. Similarly spanking was seen as essential criteria in bringing up a good child - spare the rod and spoil the child. Non-conformist daughters were also viewed as 'trainable' like the wild elephants.

Baduwa, kaylla, viperay - are some deragatory references of women. Nevertheless, things seemingly are on different track-a positive one at that considering the 'koti pahey kaylla' in reference to corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. It's a good start anyway if such labels were to come in on the corrupt instead of victimizing the innocent.

In fact, among the Muslims it has been a traditional inquiry at child birth whether the new born was a 'Saaram' or a 'kambaayam'. If Kaambaayam was the reply the recipient's face would turn like salted lime denoting the low esteem for girls. Girls listening to such expressions have turned out being biased mothers favouring their sons.

Political labels run thus-extremist, radical, terrorist and insurgent - the last two depending on whether the group is one's own community or otherwise.

Labels pertaining to religion have also created much havoc in bringing about divisive tendencies. Significantly, to be given much food for thought is whether the Buddha in his attainment of Nirvana would have labelled such state as 'This is Buddhism. So be it with Prophet Muhammed (OWBP) after having reached the highest state of spiritual bliss, "This is Islam. The same applies to Jesus at Mt. Olives in his most exalted spiritual zenith. The perfect state in metaphysical knowledge is far beyond ephemeral existence of labels and other identification, needless to say of the incompatibility in labels and highest spiritual thought.

The application of labels intensified with time's passage and the consummation of one's self or 'I' with the object was the end result of modernism. Towards this end labels have helped in bringing about global chaos.

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