I am always interested in views on how various labels affect our perception of issues, concepts, people or positions, etc. This article from the NY Times really highlights some interesting nuances that I think are particularly worth the read:

“Analogies and comparisons can be very effective and powerful tools in explanation, especially when the objects compared are not overtly and obviously similar at first glance. A comparison can be especially compelling when one of the objects is familiar or common and is wrested from its usual context. Similarities shared between disparate cases can help to highlight features in each that might otherwise escape notice. But analogies and comparisons always start to break down at some point, often when the differences are seen to be greater than similarities…”

The Fallacy of the Hijacked Brain is the name of the piece by Peg O’Connor. Check it out. Then think for a while. But make those thoughts your own.