Words have never mattered more

Every day for so many days (too many days, weeks, months) I have read, listened to, and been bombarded with excuses for why totally unacceptable words (thoughts, phrases, philosophies, mortifying boasts) were okay to say.

Why those words don't mean what we all think they mean.

Why we weren't in the room and that discounts any dismay and outrage.

Why it's the spirit and not the content of the words that matter (those are RARELY different).

Why we need an interpreter to understand the leader of our nation.

Why we are the crazy, hateful, dangerous ones.

I am sick of it.

Words matter.

Words are my life. My living. My soul.

photo - 30seconds.com

But even if I did not hold words so dear, they matter.

Words tell the world who we are. What we stand for. What we accept. What we're willing to put up with. What makes us draw a hard line. What we aspire to.

Massaging words to ease the pain they make us feel is wrong.

And it could be the worst mistake we ever make.

Words are what give monsters power. And when we make their words okay by dismissing what they're telling us, we're inviting them to hide underneath our beds.

Over the past year I have purchased a surprising number of t-shirts emblazoned with words that scream what my heart is feeling.

Shirts that show my
shock,
sorrow,
fear,
defiance,
and rebellion
in the face of those who would turn words into bullies.

I've never done this before.

But I feel an overpowering need to restore words to their objective meaning--even if it's only by broadcasting them across my chest. And ,thereby, lodging my strong dissent with those that would distort and render impotent these most valuable friends that have led us into every important human victory we have ever had.

The Declaration of Independence is words.

The Constitution is words.

Prayer is words.

I have a dream is words.

I love you is words.

I forgive you is words.

I want to understand is words.

I'm sorry is words.

I need help is words.

I'm afraid is words.

How can I help is words.

ze - cis - they - she - he is words.

I hate is words.

Shithole countries is words.

None of those phrases need an explanation. We all know what they mean.

To discount the inherent meaning of any of those words renders all the rest of them meaningless--futile.

If any of those words somehow don't mean what they actually mean, than ALL are null.

My heart is heavy.

My soul is tired.

My anger is ignited.

My fire is fueled.

As a messenger of words I want to also be a guardian of them--and what they mean.

The cowardice of our ELECTED leaders who allow this to continue unchecked is shameful.

The answer seems easy--let words mean what they mean.

Let the people who say them be held accountable for them.

Let the rest of us use our words to make sure that happens.

I'm not dismissing actions--to utter words is an action. And, as they are the weapon being used against decency, empathy, compassion, humanity--we must wield them with ferocity.