There are certain words and phrases in the English language that I just can’t relate to or understand and bug me whenever I am asked to respond to them.
“Heterosexual” is at the top of my list. I guess it is in cahoots so to speak with “homosexual” but I never heard it used until I was grown up and dating for a couple of years. The dictionary definition for heterosexual is someone who is “sexually or romantically attracted exclusively to people of the other sex.”
And of course, there is “bisexual” which means “swings both ways,” according to the street corner language where I grew up.
“Straight” is the other term that perplexes me. I mean, why are some people’s proclivities deemed to be straight while others either crooked, curved or some other derivative of being “un-straight.”
Gay or lesbian are strange words too. I get a kick out of hearing the line from a Xmas carol “Don we now our ‘gay’ apparel.” I am sure the Christian composer never thought it would ever get such an innuendo type of chuckle years later!
I believe that lesbian is a more historic term. My Greek heritage informs me of the island of Lesbos and the poet Sappho whose work was viewed as love by one woman for another. The word must have been carried over by the English-speaking folks who appreciated the philosophy and openness of the ancient Greek civilization.
And then there is the word “sex” which either comes from the Latin word “sexus” which mean “state of being male or female” or “sexual division,” or the Old French term that simply referred to genitals.
There are times like now when I feel as if I am in the state of being dumb and perplexed but will try to toughen up my manhood with understanding from the feminine side of myself.
Just don’t get me started on that strange and off-colored word “Caucasian.”
Contoveros 
The following comments were recorded on Linkedin:
Arlys Krim
Great article. Who knows how words will be interpreted a few years from now. Life is interesting.
Michael J Contos
Yes, words do make life very interesting today and in years to come.
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The Greeks have more descriptive words for love … Eros, philos, agape (I believe there are even two more). This whole thing is an advent of consciousness (my opinion) because we differentiate ourselves from nature, use language to define ourselves and our world. We role play naturally, when we look at the universe – “Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes.”—The Kybalion. (I try not to use pronouns any more 🤔)
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You are so right my friend. I wish we could eliminate some of these names or titles for some classification or another.
I wrote the post after having to fill out survey forms which always asked about your age, your state and other questions which included your sex. I wanted so often to say “none” or “none of your business.” I disliked having to click on heterosexual.
I don’t even like the word gender, transgender or that racial one for being white “Caucasion.” Where the hell did right-thinking people get that from? I know, it’s a territory in Europe or somewhere.
Oh well. Thanks for letting me rage on a little. I feel a little less befuddled now!
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Re-reading “The Kybalion” by The Three Initiates … you might find it enlightening – “The Principle of Gender (see Lesson I. and other lessons to follow) is manifested on all planes of life, material mental and spiritual. But, as we have said before, “Gender” does not mean “Sex” sex is merely a material manifestation of gender. “Gender” means “relating to generation or creation.” And whenever anything is generated or created, on any plane, the Principle of Gender must be manifested. And this is true even in the creation of Universes.”
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I just Googled “The Kybalion” and read what the Three Initiates wrote in 1908 about the ancient Greek doctrines, particularly the section about Gender.
The principle of gender
“Gender is in everything; everything has its masculine and feminine principles; gender manifests on all planes.”
I totally agree and want to thank you for introducing me to such an eye-opener. Or should I say “Mind-Opener” for that was one of the principles mentioned in the article.
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Glad you found it … For such a small book there is a wealth knowledge (wisdom) there!
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Right with you. I will never get used to saying, “Look, here they come,” when referring to one person.
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Glad to see I ain’t the only one who has problems with these thingamajigs, Mike.
I try to avoid them whenever I can but sometimes they are unavoidable. Thye least I can do is bitch about them a little. (There’s another crazy term for you – a female dog known as the B. Who would have thought when it was first created that it would be used for the other sex.)
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Uhem. It sounds to me like you understand the words perfectly. Be careful, someone may start to call you “woke” and they’ll think they’re dissin’ you, but in fact, it would be a compliment! Aaaaah, I love how words change and grow and thrive… it’s another example of the evolution of the human species. It’s a good thing!
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Are we saying that “woke” may very well be an evolutionary term?
Gotta check it with my wordsmith advisor and put that in my pipe and . . .
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