The amazing thing about contemporary American culture is its predisposition to organize itself into neat little categories. This "pigeonhole syndrome," referred to by some as PHS, (not to be confused with PMS), is responsible for much of
stress in our society today.We even categorize this stress, enabling us to compare our stress with people we meet. Some fear they will one day meet someone with same kind of stress as they have and will not know how to label him or her. Imagine stress this would create. Or, visualize a situation where someone meets someone who has no stress at all.
PHS finds its way into every area of our culture, even religious. Nobody in these days of labeling madness can just be a Christian. Are you Protestant or Catholic?
If you are Protestant what kind? Baptist? Methodist? Presbyterian? My question is simply, why can't we just be Christians?
I was behind an elderly lady at post office recently and could not help overhearing conversation. The lady wanted stamps.
The Postmaster asked her, "What denomination of stamps would you like?"
The lady paused for a moment and then replied, "Presbyterian."
I guess a Presbyterian doesn't need as much water as, say, a Baptist.
Cataloging people into convenient groupings is not bad. In fact, it can be helpful in many ways. I attended a conference last year where 97 percent of people were of non-male persuasion and believe me when I say classification is important.
Following one session I followed crowd; not paying too much attention to where we were going - and ended up in ladies restroom. To say they labeled me is putting it mildly.
Women, regardless of what you may have heard to contrary, are quite cruel to any man (meaning of course, Yours Truly) found in ladies restroom.
During last days of this election, politicians and pundits alike are making much of undecided voter. I like to refer to these elusive people as UDVs of our country.
Who are these people and where do they live? Moreover, how long did it take them to decide where they were going to live?
If UDVs exist at this point in game, I would not want them voting for me. Personally, I do not believe in UDVs. In my mind, it is something news media invented so they would have something to talk about, especially these 24-hour cable news programs.
Having something fresh and interesting to say 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a lot of airtime to fill. Not to mention that most (if not all) on-air personnel are full of hot air.
UDVs are only a figment of their tired and stressed imagination, searching for something new to say about something everyone already knows. In fact, I think UDVs, WMDs and Elvis are all hiding out in Syria.
