Back in November, I heard this term used in a conversation about Kyle Rittenhouse’s sentencing. The gist was that the jury was clearly not representative of the community, a point on which I agree.

But the term Bubba - it bugged me.

I hadn’t heard it before, and it’s been nagging me ever since.

I gathered from inference (and later, of course, the internets) that it means something along the lines of uneducated and/or crass and/or politically reactionary white (possibly Southern) American. The casual way it was thrown around made me uneasy in a way I found hard to explain at the time, even to loved ones. It sat with me - gnawed at me - after that discussion.

I suppose it comes down to the fact that it’s yet another term that de-humanizes and simplifies. And anything that strips complexity from people or situations strikes me as inherently dangerous, ripe for tribalism, for “us versus them” group think.

I can feel eyes rolling as I type this.

Look, I know.

I’m acutely aware that we’ve just marked a year since the deadly attempted coup in the U.S., and that threats to democracy are stronger than ever. I’m not blind to the cynical and irresponsible and dangerous fear mongering - even an ocean and several time zones away, it’s loud and undeniable and seemingly relentless.

I just can’t see how disparaging name calling will get us anywhere.

Maybe if we could try to be a little more careful with our speech, it might trigger some curiosity (and eventually - dare I say? - compassion) for the people we label.

Yes, we’re traumatized and hurting and resentful and frightened and exhausted and angry and sad.

But we’re also responsible for the world we create with our thoughts, our words (and of course, our actions).

Can’t we do better than this?

Can we please be better than this?