Words matter. Words are important. We often like to pretend that our actions do not have consequences -that we have the freedom to say and do anything without fear of consequences. While many of us possess the freedom to speak and act, this does not grant us freedom from the consequences of our words or actions. The actual only way to control the consequences of our actions is to control our actions. We expect to have the freedom to disrespect others and at the same time demand others to respect us. For some, disrespect is a life or death matter. And it's not just radical extremist. Sadly, disrespect has been a catalyst for violence throughout history. Other guilty parties include developed nations, street gangs, childhood bullies, figures of authority... the list goes on. For some, perceived freedom to say whatever they want emboldens others to exercise their perceived freedom to react in any manner that they see fit. Some of these "acts of freedom" have been called the following:
Justice, terrorism, propaganda, resistance, protest, rioting, liberty, crusades, murder, revenge, salvation, anti-Semitism, racism, vigilantism, patriotism...
Of course, there are many more.
In essence, it goes back to the old saying: "One man's freedom ends where another man's freedom begins."
Simply stated, words are actions. What we say has consequences just as what we do has consequences. Think not. Try yelling "fire" in a public building Say, "bomb" when attempting to board a flight. Use sexually or racially offensive language in a public forum... The consequence of such words will come harder and faster than any physical action that you could mount to undo those words. Just think about any victim of "Foot-n-Mouth" disease. We have all had a case at one time or another. The famous cases (celebrities and politicians) often seem to have longest convalescent periods.
If words were so trivial, why would so many government be listening and recording every word we say?
We can't just say or write whatever we want and expect to control and predict how people react. We can only be responsible for our actions. I have no control over how readers will respond to this or any of my posts. If it is your goal to offend or disrespect, should you be surprised when the disrespected choose to disrespect your in return? For some, their faith is greater than life itself. So, it is not a great stretch to take another's life if their faith has been disrespected. They are often more than willing to give their lives for such beliefs. For others, freedom is their religion. So, they exercise it with the same dangerous zeal that they would call fanatical in another context. They too are willing to give their lives for the cause of "freedom." Does one action of belief justify the other? No. Just as we cannot do whatever we would like without consequences, we cannot say or write whatever we would like without consequences. This is not to defend the actions of defamation or extremism. Nor is this an attempt to draw a false moral equivalence. Here is the point in short, words are actions.
Let's stop pretending that words are not actions that have consequences for good or otherwise.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/opinion/david-brooks-i-am-not-charlie-hebdo.html?referrer=&_r=1
People matter. People are equally important.
12 were slain in Paris, and the world responded. Around the same time 2000 men, women and children were murdered in Nigeria, and the world remained largely silent. Slayings occurred in Missouri, New York, Florida, Ohio, Connecticut, and we protested. And yet, so many more died in a similar fashion throughout the years and across the globe that aroused no response whatsoever. Here's a similar example: A plane goes down, and the report states that there were no American lives lost. Does that somehow make things less tragic? Are some lives more valuable than others? Is it only a tragedy if it occurs in my hometown, to my race, against my religion, or in my country. No, it's a tragedy if it happens in my world. We are not all "Charlie," but "We are the World (to quote an 80's song)."
We must value all lives as important, not just the ones that we identify with or those that have the most in common with us. Failing to do so is one of the root causes of prejudice, hate, terrorism, sectarian violence, authoritarian brutality, genocide, civil unrest... Sadly, this list goes on.
Once again, let's stop pretending that words spoken or otherwise exist without consequence and that some lives are more valuable than others.
The truth is that both Words and People matter.
