stone 3: our war of words is really a war within our hearts

{an ongoing series to make sense of life with an ongoing PAN(dem)IC}

Bruno Agguire. Unsplash

Artist Makoto Fujimura writes that we need to commit to move beyond poisoned language and the “imperious disregard” for the life of those unlike ourselves…. and that constructive cultural work begins not in opposition but in sharing — of ideals generously argued, of visions for future generations, of opportunities to meet and dialogue with the other. (Culture Care p41)

Poisoned Language

George Floyd’s suffering and death triggered a fresh round of BlackLivesMatter#. When a friend shared on her Fb that AllLivesMatter#, she was immediately chastised for being insensitive. In the face of a monstrous injury and affront to an entire people group, language it seems must be weaponised to tilt the scales. It isn’t enough to make a point, when people persistently refuse to get it. One must silent all dissenting voices, even ones that merely skirt the fringe, or even suggest a larger truth. The moment demands an uncompromising vitriol.

This slugfest of words has now become vernacular.

I feel so worn, like I have aged a whole decade, simply because one cannot read a post, tweet or article without coming across acerbic content that makes a soul feel berated, scorned, stung, scorched, dismissed and derided.