Symbols and Words Matter
This morning, (Saturday 9/28) I found myself amused over the back and forth angst that a sports talk show host caused (an interesting person and not one I would ever accuse of worshipping before the altar of political correctness) when he went on a rant about the use of a particular nickname that the young new NY Giants quarterback seems to have been given in the media. The host found it offensive (and truth be told the player himself does not like it and wants no part of it –which in a civilized society would have ended the discussion right there – but of course we are hardly that anymore, are we?) The player is being deemed “Danny dimes” which to many has such a “wise guy” organized crime stereo typing Italian Americans connotation to it.
The fact that the name originated as a compliment from a teammate (as in, “this guys is so accurate, he can throw a football 70 yards and it’ll land on a dime”) is now irrelevant. Some folks are offended by the nickname. Some are offended that people are offended. It’s only a name. It’s a game. Why does every single issue become a political fight? (Answer to that one is simple: welcome to 2019 U.S.A.)
Now being the passionate baseball fan, I could care less who calls whom what in some other sport. But as a Christian, let me remind you that words and symbols do take on meanings and associations – even if never intended. It’s unfair. It’s illogical (as most of the grammar rules of the English language tend to be). I am not talking political correctness. I am speaking about our call as Christians to be civil and kind and never going out of our way to offend. Offenses happen when unintended, but why go the extra mile to cause them.
Let me give you some examples. It annoys me that one of the symbols of Christ’s death for our salvation, a particular style of cross developed into middle Ages is forever banned as a Christian symbol. The symbol was appropriated by those monsters in the last century called National Socialists (abbreviated: “Nazi”) who took an unusual form of a Christian symbol – the Swastika – and made it their symbol. They do not own that symbol – they stole it and made it a sign of evil. But the damage is done, and no one is going to ever try to reuse the symbol liturgically or anywhere else. It has become offensive. It is a sign of hate. And symbols matter.
For those of you who are wordsmiths, you know that there is technically a descriptive term in English that connotes “insufficiency” or “meagre.” However whatever its origin, because it is the adjectival form of the “n” word, it should never be used any longer. Words bring connotations even if not intended. Words can offend and hurt.
Fr. Joe