Patriot or Rebel? Talking About Perspective in History and in Business

Level: Intermediate • Date: April 20, 2025

Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

The Same Person, Two Labels

In 1775, the British called them rebels. The colonists called themselves patriots. Both groups were talking about the same people—but they saw them in very different ways. What you call someone depends on your point of view.

The tension had been growing for years. After the Stamp Act, the Boston Tea Party, and other protests, many colonists felt their rights were being ignored. Meanwhile, the British government saw the colonies as increasingly unruly and dangerous. When shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, the conflict turned from protests to war.

History is full of this kind of split. One side sees bravery; the other sees rebellion. One side talks about freedom; the other talks about disobedience. It’s not just about what happened—but about how people felt about it—and who got to tell the story afterward.

Business Is Like That Too

This idea isn’t only in history. In business, too, perspective changes everything. Imagine someone on your team speaks up to challenge the boss’s decision. One person might say, “He’s being negative.” Another might say, “He’s showing leadership.” Same action—different label.

What if a coworker breaks an old rule to improve a process? Is she a troublemaker? Or an innovator? Again, it depends on how you see it.

These moments happen all the time—in team meetings, performance reviews, or when companies go through change. A bold move by one employee might be seen as risky by some and courageous by others. A startup founder who challenges industry norms might be praised as a visionary—or dismissed as reckless. Even during layoffs or reorganizations, how we talk about people’s actions can shift how they are remembered. Are they seen as someone who resisted change—or someone who stood for what they believed in?

The way we frame behavior in the workplace shapes careers, reputations, and company culture.

The Power of Framing

The way we describe people affects how others treat them. That’s why it’s important to choose your words carefully. Do you want to call someone a rebel—or a pioneer?

In American history, today we see the Minutemen as heroes. But back in 1775, British officials saw them as a threat. Over time, the story changed—because the point of view changed.

The same is true in your workplace. Try looking at challenges from more than one side. You may see something valuable you missed before.

Vocabulary

Perspective (noun) – a way of thinking about something
- Everyone has a different perspective on the issue.
Label (noun/verb) – a word or phrase used to describe someone or something
- People labeled her a rebel for speaking out.
Patriot (noun) – someone who loves and supports their country
- The colonists saw themselves as patriots fighting for freedom.
Rebel (noun) – someone who fights against authority
- The British saw the colonists as rebels.
Disobedience (noun) – refusing to follow rules or authority
- His disobedience got him in trouble with the manager.
Framing (noun) – the way you present or describe something
- Her framing of the problem made it easier to solve.
Innovator (noun) – someone who introduces new ideas or methods
- The company praised her as an innovator.
Challenge (verb) – to question or go against something
- He challenged the decision during the meeting.
Troublemaker (noun) – someone who causes problems or breaks rules
- Some people thought he was just a troublemaker.
Pioneer (noun) – a person who is the first to do something new

She was seen as a pioneer in the tech industry.

Discussion Questions

About the Article

What is the difference between a patriot and a rebel?
How does perspective change how we label people?
Why did the British and the colonists use different words?
What are some examples of different labels for the same behavior at work?
How can choosing the right words help in business?

About the Topic

Have you ever been labeled unfairly?
Can you think of a time when your opinion changed after seeing a different point of view?
What does it mean to be a leader in your workplace?
Do you think rebels are always bad? Why or why not?
How can you practice seeing both sides of a situation?

Suggested Phrase

“See it from another angle”

Meaning: to look at something in a different way or from a new perspective
Example: To solve the problem, she had to see it from another angle.

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