Words Matter

 

            Words matter.

24 years – the same age as my son. I will always remember the number of years that pass since September 11, 2001, because I watched it unfold live on television while holding my two-month-old son and trying to distract my two-year-old daughter from what was being displayed on the screen in our living room.  

            24 years. 24 years ago, we watched the horrific consequences of violent rhetoric live and in color. Yes, they were consequences of violent rhetoric. It began with words – words of hatred and venom and destruction. Words that came from a mindset that some should live while others die. And I’ll go so far as to say that those violent words were inspired by violence that began with violent words that were used against those who planned 9/11.

            Violent rhetoric begets violent action which begets more violent words. Where does it end? With violence upon violence upon violence. It is, literally, a vicious cycle. And it begins with violent rhetoric.

            Words matter. Words harm and hurt and abuse and violence in words can lead to violence in action. A man was killed yesterday. Students were shot yesterday. Children were bombed and attacked and starved yesterday. And the day before that and the day before that and the day before that. Words matter, and when our words are violent and unchecked, how can we believe that those words won’t be taken literally and used to justify violence in more words as well as in deeds. It is a terrible irony that the man who was killed yesterday stated that some gun deaths were necessary in order to maintain our 2^nd Amendment rights. He probably never thought that he would be a gun death as well. He did not deserve it, no one does, but surely his words contributed to the possibility that it could happen.

            Words matter. But we can’t seem to learn this lesson. The tragedy and heartbreak of this day 24 years ago should have caused us all to carefully consider our words. But violent rhetoric has only increased, and it should surprise none of us that violent action has escalated as well. And innocents are always caught in its wake. Because the trauma of yesterday’s violence, and the trauma of the violence on each day before, causes not only physical harm but spiritual harm, emotional harm, and psychological harm to everyone who bears witness. If we don’t address this harm, if we don’t address the pain that we inflict, if we don’t change our words and demand that our leaders do the same, this cycle will never be broken. Violence will catch us all, one way or another. It will be embodied in large ways and in small. Every violent, tragic, unnecessary death wounds our souls. Every vitriolic utterance causes us damage. Words matter, and words open the door for action. We have a choice to make – words of violence or words of compassion; words that revile or words that forgive. I want to choose the latter. I want to choose words and actions that reflect love of God and love of neighbor. I want to speak words that are tender and words that heal. I must choose the latter because I know how easy it is to do otherwise.

So may my words be words of love. May my words be words of justice. May my words be words of peace. It is easy, far too easy, to speak words of hate. May my words speak love and may my actions do the same.

            Words matter.