Words Matter...

Hi!

Words matter.

Certain words float around in the ether that are culturally, morally, societally, and universally understood as offensive, as hurtful, as just plain wrong.

Now, before you get your panties in a twist, I am not talking about your run-of-the-mill swear words or religious-type words that make my mom cringe. 

No, I'm talking about the racially and culturally charged ones that hit the ear with the force of a baseball bat swinging for the fences and reverberate through to your soul. Back in the day, it was easier to feign ignorance. That excuse no longer works... at all. With access to unlimited information, there isn't a person in the free world that should be confused.

If these words, and the attitudes you use to justify their use, flow from you with, or without hesitation, that's a choice. You know it's wrong, you know it's racist... you know... you simply choose to do it anyway.

If these words are coming from children and teenagers you are charged with raising, they learned it from you. 

Just keep this in mind. The world at large, the one you are sending them into, ceased to accept or tolerate these words or attitudes decades ago.

When you know better, you do better. 

You can't pretend you don't know better. Not. Any. More. 

Save the clutching of the pearls when what you say offends others. Save the scoffing like people are just being over-sensitive. Just save it.

Intentional and continued pretense of ignorance tells all of us who you are.

It speaks to your core character.

It speaks to how you see the world and how see yourself fitring in it.

It speaks to how you see anyone who lives outside of the tiny boxes you feel comfortable with. 

If you are still confused.

Words like that are NEVER ok. There is not a circumstance that exists in which it becomes even almost, remotely okay. Not in a joke. Not in a song. Not in reference. Just no. 

There aren't that many words that fall under this category. 

It's not that freakin' hard. If you find it difficult, maybe it's time for some deep introspection.  

Strip away the pretenses and excuses you give others and yourself, and dig into the real "why" behind your belief system. Behind your attitude. Behind your words. 

It has been my experience that if someone is willing to let racial slurs fly, then homophobic, body shaming, differently-abled ridiculing, and others, spew just as easily. 

In using these slurs, what is the goal?

If it's to present yourself to the world as a backward-thinking bigot, congratulations. Mission accomplished. 

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