When it comes to language, the question of today is: What do you mean? It’s not: what did you say? I heard you. It’s, “What do you mean?” because what you just said doesn’t make sense. The problem with the English language is the way that we all use it. It’s not the possibilities that we have and it’s not the fact of there, their, and they’re or too, two, and to. It’s the fact that we all misspeak.
Today, this problem is more prevalent than ever among our nation’s young people and it’s not acceptable.
Even if some of the names that are tossed around are accurate, do we have a right to label people as that? Is that our place to call them out?
When you throw the r-word around, do you know what you’re saying to someone? What do you mean, you think it's okay to call someone that? That’s not a word or a name that you can just toss out. There are people struggling every day to continue their lives because of the disability that they are facing and you think that it’s okay to call your friend that when he makes a mistake.
The problem with language today is that people don’t take it seriously. Words matter. Words make a difference. Not everyone has the ability to use language. You are lucky that you can speak and make the choices that you make as far as the words that come out of your mouth. Realize that that in itself is a privilege. Don’t misuse that privilege in calling someone a whore. Does she work as a prostitute? Even if she does, that’s her business. By the way she doesn’t. Get your facts straight and learn your definitions because what you call people, matters. It matters if it’s under your breath or shouted in a crowded room. If it’s through a text message because you would never have the courage that it takes to be that rude in person, it matters. Stop and think about the way you are using your language.
Why don’t you stop making a negative difference and begin the movement towards positive speech? Start allowing this generation to make a positive change. Start calling people beautiful instead of putting them down just because it makes you feel better. Start complimenting him on his shirt because he does look nice today.
The problem with language is that we don’t realize the impact that our words have, but they matter. It’s important that you use words that are honest and kind and loving and inspiring and that they are loyal to the character that you want to portray because when you call her a slut, that says something about yourself. More than the person that you are mistreating, that says something about you and how you think you look best. Be giving and patient, amazing and true, because that’s you. Remember that. Remember that your words matter and you want to be happy and you want to be strong. That’s how you want people to see you, too. So don’t call her that and don’t say that to him because all that’s doing is showing others that you don’t care about who’s disrespected. You don’t care about how they’re treated or how he’s spoken to -- you don’t care about how you’re effected by language.
Use your words to make the world more beautiful and lift people up. We have enough bad in this world that is already pushing people down. Don't add your words to that list.
