Natalie Shobana Ambrose (10th September 2009 - theSun)
“I’m not a dictionary!” I used to be told pre-Google times. So I learnt to use the lexicon and I’m still a fan of the physical book though I’m a devotee of the online version.
Definitions are a peculiar thing. Though very useful, it can be confining, inhibiting and determining at times. Sometimes I find that the definition might not be sufficient and that’s when I wonder how well some definitions encapsulate meaning.
I think Shakespeare said it best when the warring families in Romeo and Juliet set the scene where these famous words were uttered “What’s in a name, that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet”.
I used to wonder what this meant. Would an orange still taste and smell like an orange if it were called an apple? Those were my juvenile thoughts.
Today perhaps I acknowledge the power of definition – how it can change or frame our thoughts, actions and opinions.
It can be easy to understand how some words too can be easily mistaken in definition or interchange meaning.
This though causes much confusion, because the definition itself determines the action or thought pattern of the situation and has the potential to cause grave consequences.
A ceremonial procession which includes people marching could be easily misunderstood as a protest when in fact this definition is clearly the definition of a parade.
There are many similarities of a parade and protest.
In many cases uniforms are involved to identify those involved. Some uniforms may be a little more ornate than an average orange, yellow, black or white t-shirt.
The danger in misunderstanding these definitions is that the consequences vary.
Sometimes when parading, people might carry an object while parading. This varies from group to group. Though to some the object might be sacred, the majority might not define it as such making it a parade instead.
Therefore, it’s important to note that in cases like these where it’s really a thin line, it matters not what the march is about but rather how it’s defined.
Another important note to remember when defining a parade or protest is the availability of a permit, though most times, if the cause is defined as a parade, arrests are not necessary.
So to avoid arrests and tear gas, request to have a parade and not a protest.
When Juliet mentioned the rose in 1594, what she was really saying is what matters is what something is, not what it is called.
If the essence of the parade is hatred, disapproval or an ostentatious display of ignorance, then motive defines the act.
That is why sometimes definitions though very necessary might need to be re-evaluated.
Another word that can cause great confusion is tolerance. Some other words that are synonymous to tolerance such as patience, impartiality, open-mindedness don’t always attach its meaning to tolerance.
Tolerance is more a sufferance, and putting up with something wrong. Though this may seem like a very altruistic quality, it does come with limits and judgement.
A classic example would be my tolerance of noise. Though it is endured, my tolerance of noise may be limited to a decibel that most teenagers might not agree with and if my patience is tested, I might loose cool and be driven to do something not very good.
Though my excuse might be that I’ve tolerated enough and am justified in my outburst, somehow this makes tolerance not a very positive word if my victims have to accept my bad behaviour.
This is when I prefer the word acceptance to tolerance. If one party has to continuously tolerate and the other accepting the consequences of the toleration, things go a little awry and become a little scary.
Definitions are a funny thing.
In order to be taken seriously, we define things, measure outcomes and provide statistics. Yet, the important things in life such as love, harmony, friendship, decency and integrity cannot be precisely defined.
And sometimes in order for peace and justice to be upheld, a spade should be called a spade.
Natalie is not much of a gardener and rarely can be seen with a spade in her hands.
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