Quote from: Melissa on June 03, 2006, 11:24:34 AM
"Their only words. It's the context that counts. It's the user. It's the intention behind the words that makes them good or bad. The words are completely neutral. The words are innocent. I get tired of people talking about bad words and bad language. Bullsh**! It's the context that makes them good or bad." -George Carlin, Parental Advisory Explicit Lyrics Album
http://www.iceboxman.com/carlin/pael.php#track14
Melissa
Ever been accused of something you weren't guilty of ? If so, was your life or another's literally hanging in the balance as a result ? The accusation was comprised of words, innocent or not, and these words carried specific and dire consequences, and all the worse if the words were misinterpreted, misused, mispercieved by others, inaccurate, distorted, or just plain lies. Try that feeling on for size, and then tell me "it's only words"... Ever personally known someone that's been killed, jailed, or tortured as a political prisoner of conscience for simply and openly speaking about love, liberty, and the inalienable rights of freewill and honest expression amongst all fellow beings ? These were "just words" too, and millions of people around the world are still losing their lives, homes, families, and all creature comforts which so many take for granted, all because of the millenia of cumulative effects of the use, misuse, and unfair, untrue, and distorted concepts of religious, socioeconomic, and political doctrine and dogma which, by the specific use of words and the perception thereof, has undoubtedly contributed over the ages. The continued lack of clear communication between people of all cultures, races, religions, and demograhpics. All because of "just words".
I find it interesting that regardless of having a stronger constitution, thicker skin if you will, many that have responded to this post seem to have pointedly avoided acknowledging the simple fact that deeper awareness, conscious care, loving thoughtfulness, good manners, and just plain consideration in the use of specific words and language could be more helpful to all of us, in a world still riddled with prejudice, persecution, distortion, misrepresentation, and murder of the innocent. After all, wouldnt it make sense to do these things sometimes, considering that the specific use of words and language both is at the very heart of the matter where both perception and therefore ultimately, most of human conflict and misunderstanding is and has been rooted since the beginning of documented history ?
If one is not willing to be part of the solutions to problems within society and culture, which by the way, once again has most often been rooted in perception and the closely interlinked relation of the specific use of words and language, as the primary key to this equation, then you may be part of the apathetic or unwilling, and therefore part of the problems instead of the solutions. Since some have seen fit to take both my meanings and the specific language i have used, entirely out of context in order to make their points, i felt that this must be said.
Please forgive me for any offense, but i personally believe that a lot of folks really need to wake up a little bit more on this one, and that in so doing, it can and will help all that are still struggling to just be our truest selves without fear of death, torture, persecution, misinterpretation, bigotry, prejudice, shame, or total misperception.
If what has been said in response is true, then all language and the use of specific words to communicate specific thoughts, concepts, and ideas would become meaningless as well. I think this would be untrue. The legal systems of the world would no longer function at all, legal contracts would become meaningless, compassionate and passionate exression of specific feelings in words or writing which could either effect highly positive or deeply negative change, would lose all value and meaning....
In some of the response/assertions that have been made, this would also entirely invalidate many people's very real and very personal individual experiences via exposure to events that have deeply hurt and traumatized countless multitudes of people, such as has occurred in racism for example, or the childhood trauma many have suffered quite tangibly as a result of verbal and mental abuse from others....The examples are countless, and the heart of the matter is in the meaning and the specific use of words and language. If you can say that the word "love" has no meaning other than what people have assigned to it over countless ages, then why create and use such a word to begin with ? If the word "bullsh---" has no meaning in this same manner, why use it ? Sure, it may be replaced with a similar word or expression, but the word itself still carries a specific vibration of meaning since it's original inception, and will likely create it's equal and similar response in the perception of others when used.
Most sincerely and respectfully,
ChefAnnagirl
