The adults who nurtured me during my childhood spread false news. That is to say, they lied to me. The “sticks and stones” part was accurate enough, but definitely not “words can never harm me.”
Words can incite riots. They can divide communities, states and nations. They can encourage hate and hateful behavior. They can destroy citizens’ confidence in their own government.
Damage is done when a candidate for president, one who never served in our military, demeans Sen. John McCain by saying, “I like people who weren’t captured.”
Damage is done when a candidate announces the “Second Amendment folks” know what to do to prevent an opponent from nominating judges they don’t approve of.
Damage is done when a candidate demonstrates his lack of familiarity with the lives of our citizens by categorizing all people of color as living in poverty. It is done when he refers to Mexicans who come to America as criminals, rapists, tied in with drugs. It is done when he wants to ban all Muslims.
Damage is done when an elected official lies about the outcome of an election and misrepresents the popular vote and the electoral vote.
And equally as damaging is when he does not speak out against those who, in his name, attack members of the LGBTQ community, blacks, Jews, Muslims and others.
Damage is done when “fair and balanced” means repeating verifiably false news.
Words matter. Honest, truthful, carefully chosen words on the part of elected leaders and on the part of citizens can make a difference.
If we eschew code words, if we engage in respectful debate, if we refuse to credit or promote factually incorrect language, if we speak truth to power, we will make a difference.
MARJORIE SMITH
Durham