I did yesterday. It may become a habit.

*

Not often enough.

I’ll wager.

Sorry, I hope I haven’t offended you.

I’ve been doing that lately.

For example, I insulted a friend during an argument yesterday.

I called him a name.

It wasn’t a terrible name, not one of those 21st-century unacceptable names.

That my uncle used in the 1950s.

But I stamped a label on his forehead.

It was a standard 21st-century label.

Racist.

I could see the hurt in his eyes.

Hear the wound in his voice.

At first, I tried to clarify.

I didn’t mean you were a racist, only that you support a racist.

I knew the damage had been done.

Upon reflection, it’s possible to be right and wrong.

There are racists.

But guilt by association is a bridge too far.

Today, this word has become an epithet.

Like antisemite.

Progress.

However, hurtling labels at people is like painting with a broad brush.

Sloppy.

Using a cannon when a scalpel would do.

So, instead of writing words on the board, I apologized to my friend.

It felt so good.

I’ll try it on someone else today.