What's in a name?

"What's in a name?"

Juliet, I thought you'd never ask.

Names are most commonly associated with identity. Based on how someone or a group of people perceive or best understand something, that thing's name, the word it's referred to as, is created or changed. For example, in Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, Macon Dead is called "Milkman," a name coined by Freddie who took his own twist on what he once saw Macon Dead doing. Naming also conveys a meaning. Calling Mains Avenue "Not Doctor Street" after referring to it as "Doctor Street" was banned demonstrates how protest can be shown through a name. But contrary to this, names can also be dangerous at times.

Very commonly we see the controversy of labelling someone as a terrorist. This word seems to be exclusively used for describing a Muslim criminal, and seldom used in reference to any non-Muslim committing something of the same magnitude. Now, I am in no way justifying the actions committed by any one labeled as such, but this selective use of the word "terrorist" is moving to become a stereotype of Muslims, degrading nearly 2 billion people in the world.
First impressions mean everything, and if a person has a false predisposition as to what a Muslim is like, their interactions with them would be totally different. Any assets and qualities of this person would be Trumped by the perception of society. To others, this rose by any other name wouldn't smell as sweet.

Since names have so much weight in humanity, we really should be careful with how they're used.