Words matter.

My heart breaks for the families who lost their loved ones on Saturday in the two mass shootings here in our country.  So many, many people will never be the same.  The families of the dead,  but also those who were injured, and those who experienced the shootings, seeing the damage, all will forever be changed.

It was another terrible day in America.

As we have now gotten used to, the talk on TV quickly went to the reasons why mass shootings have increased here.   There is never just one reason.   We have heard them:  unstable young men – some connected with white supremacy groups,  the availability to purchase high power automatic weapons, watching violent movies and playing video games, and the lack of love and God in lives.

The politicians have used the tragedies to speak out on issues.  I get it.  We are in the too-long campaign season and all those running want to say something.  And, really, I’m glad they do speak out….  because I want McConnell to bring gun reform bills to the house for a vote.  He has too much power and it frustrates me along with many others that he sits on bills.

Yesterday I got caught up on a long thread on Facebook started by a friend, who was upset about one of the politicians.   He posted something about Beto O’Rourke which I had not seen.  Some comments from friends got really nasty. Oh the words they used!   I asked what it was because I didn’t know, and found out that our president had tweeted that O’Rourke made up his first name and that he was not Hispanic but was trying to be for political reasons. (Hmmm. Remember the whole Obama birth certificate lie?)   I, perhaps foolishly, got involved in the conversation and quickly realized that I was the only one on the thread who did not support our president. Comments started to be directed at me.    I was called crazy.

This morning I saw another post – something about someone smiling during this time of grief.  I’m afraid to ask online – who?  When?  It’s from the same group so I’m guessing it was a Democrat.   But, what is interesting to me is this:  I watch the news and I had not heard about O’Rourke, or about the inappropriate smile.   So, I guess these both came directly from our president’s tweets or from the other mouthpiece called Fox News.

Why do I tell you this?   It is scary to me how the media sources sway their viewers.  It’s obvious that Fox does it.  It’s common knowledge.  I have watched them – and I hear the sometimes subtle language used to encourage a way of thinking. Sometimes it is NOT subtle!    I hear it on CNN now too – and I see it in body language and facial expressions of the reporters.    The late night shows call it out all the time.

It continues to get worse and worse each day.    I think it’s obvious.  Everyday it amazes me.    Yet, not everyone sees it.

During this time of mourning it disappoints me how this is going on.  Words matter.   We should be united in wanting change for our country that will stop so many mass shootings. Can’t we agree on that?     We need to have discussions, and we need to have Congress take action.    Regardless of what network you watch we should all want a safer country.  Right?

So – The meanness needs to stop.  Lies need to stop.  Lashing out at those with differing opinions needs to stop.    Words matter.

The media needs to stop showing our president’s tweets as ‘news’.  Especially those that are just mean spirited jabs at opponents. He does it because it gets attention.     His words, written in tweets or said, are to incite division.  Do you see it?   The news sources need to report facts.  The other hours on networks need to clearly identify opinion hours as such.   Words sway.

We as viewers and citizens have to purposely watch our language. Words matter.  There is so much nastiness out there.  I remember at the beginning of this year saying that ‘fear’ will be the word of the year… that putting fear into people is a form of power over them.  Look around.  It is happening.  We are fearful of people who do not look like us, and we are fearful of people who don’t think like us.  We have been told to fear change and we fear we are not great anymore.   We fear our rights will be taken away.  We fear nobody cares for us personally.   We fear our money will go to others.

I don’t know, but don’t you think there is a connection between all this fear and the rise in mass shootings?

As I said at the beginning of this muse, my heart breaks for those experiencing the pain brought on by the mass shootings.  But we are all touched by it.  We all need to do something about it.   Perhaps start with watching our words.   Words matter.  What we say…. and what we read.  What we hear – from our president on down to our friends.   What we hear from young men speaking of violence.  What we read online.  What we pray for each day.

Our words should speak of hope, of goodness, of unity, of equality.

I get frustrated with what I hear and read.  I get worried like others do.  Because I know so well that…

Words matter.

We need to be purposeful about our words.