The Power Of Words

Wow.

There's a word.

Humbled.

Another good one.

Appreciative.

Should be in everyone's vocabulary.

The past 24 hours have found over 200,000 pairs of eyes reading a single entry here at Don't Get Me Started.  Traffic driven here by the sharing of a link over and over and over, like a literary Faberge shampoo commercial.  "I told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on and so on..."

Watching the numbers climb an average of 10,000 per hour, I have been humbled, appreciative, and left mouthing the word "Wow" over and over.

To that end, I would like to first thank all of you who have come, read, read more, commented, and then shared the link to "What Will It Take?" with your friends.  Welcome to DGMS.  I hope you come back often. (I promise things are not always this heavy around here.)

Reading your comments, I have been reminded of something I have always believed when I sit down to write - words have power.  The power to influence emotions, to broaden a scope, to move people to action.  And yes, to validate.  It's that last one that has been found in so many of the comments left on that particular piece.

And while echo chambers often get a deservedly bad rap - dissenting voices are important to a dialogue - sometimes, like the days we are living through, people need to be reminded that they are not alone, they are not crazy, and that what they feel is not unique.  

In this case, be reminded that 65 million other people are out here stupefied, horrified by what is happening in this country.

Being able to put words to what people are thinking but cannot quite express, are afraid to express, is humbling.  I never lose sight of that.  

I do want to try to respond to some of the comments, clarify where I am coming from in some of the words I wrote.

First and foremost, NO, I do not want innocent people to be hurt by this administration coming to power.  But in terms of those who voted for Trump, there is not any innocence to the act.  I have seen many of his voters try to hide behind "policy differences" and "conservatism" as their reasons.  NO.  In terms of policies?  He had none.  Not a one.  He had word salad, red meat, and dog whistles, but no real, actionable policies.  As for conservatism?  To use that word in relation to Donald Trump is laughable.  A man who splashes his cash on a gilded tower and a laundry list of failed enterprises is no conservative.

Supporting Trump meant that a person marinated in a cesspool of hate, ignorance, misogyny, racism, Islamophobia, phobias of all ilk for nearly 2 years, yet were willing to hold their nose, look the other way at the glaring inhumanity of his powerful words and his other followers, and still vote for him.  They do not now get to declare themselves clean.  There is great truth to the words, "You are the company you keep."  And their company believes they are better than someone whose skin is darker than theirs, whose religion is different than theirs, whose attractions are not like theirs.

This is not a matter of political difference, this is a matter of humanity.  And as long as the orange finger was not pointing at them, they were totally cool with it being pointed at everyone else.

Next, in terms of those who are of the "reach out and embrace the opposition" mindset, I used to think that way, too.  The sad reality is that the majority on that other side would sooner cut your outstretched arms off than enter your embrace.  They have long scoffed at liberals, jeering at our empathy, open hearts, desire to help others.  They see our willingness to compromise as weakness.  Our compassion makes them sick.  They laugh at the fact we feel.  

That's fine.  I will take being laughed at, jeered at, made fun of.  Our compassion is the source for why we can actually SEE other people as PEOPLE, not monsters or threats.  Our empathy leads us to learn about others.  Our willingness to replace what we think we know with actual fact is why we are less afraid.  Fear cannot exist without a steady diet of ignorance.

I am completely aware of what a dangerous world we have.  I know there are real threats.  But I also know that more of my fellow citizens are a greater daily threat to me than is ISIS.  I know that no transgender person has ever attacked someone in a bathroom.  I know that my marriage is not compromised or weakened by a same sex marriage.  That people who follow Islam are no different than people who follow Christianity.  It's the extremists in both that are the danger.

And I know that civility has its place.  Many have stated I am "an angry person."  In general, no.  In the acute?  YES.  Any rational, thinking, truly patriotic person would be angry about what has/is taking place.  The hypocrisy alone is staggering.  Reverse any of this - any one piece of it.  Replace the word Trump with Hillary - his supporters would be screaming for her head.  That is the mindset we are up against.  Sadly, we are going to have to come to terms with the fact that our overtures, our attempts at entreaties don't just fall on deaf ears - they fall on willfully deaf ears.  The adult equivalent of toddlers with their fingers in their head holes chanting "Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah."  The other side must be met on their playing field where they need to finally feel that we are not weak.  They need to be shocked by our strength, our passion, our willingness to fight for this country they only profess to love.

As I told someone earlier today, these people have always been there.  They were just hiding in the shadows, knowing that their beliefs, their venality was not acceptable.  But Trump came along and not only emboldened them to step out of those shadows, those sewers, but he validated their heinous thoughts, actions.  Now, like any schoolyard bully, they will only shrink when stood up to.  They need knocked HARD onto their metaphorical asses.  They, and their vile behaviors, must be shoved back into those sewers, made to realize that this country is better than what they, and their chosen leader, are portraying to the world.

I have always held fast to the belief that people are nuanced, so much more than one thing.  But this election has highlighted that one thing can be a definer.  One thing can obscure the others.  I know that in that 62 million who voted for him are people who volunteer, who take care of their granny, who donate to food banks, who smile at their neighbor, who laugh at funny videos, who extend a helping hand.  But those same people denied the humanity of millions of others when they elevated Donald Trump to POTUS.

And in that one act, they obscured everything else and defined themselves one by thing:  their own stunning lack of humanity.

That is what they must be made to see, to own.  Every tear that falls, every family torn apart, every drop of blood that is shed as a result of the actions of this administration - they must not be allowed to feign innocence.  They must be held accountable.  And yes, when they find themselves hurting, scared, shocked at the tables turning on them, I know we bleeding hearts will do what we always do - we will reach out a hand.  I have complete faith in the better angels of our nature - even if those angels have to now stand back and watch cold, hard reality smack people in the face.

We will help two people, and perhaps they'll help two people, and so on and so on.  A girl can dream, can't she?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Again, thank you to everyone who has come in to DGMS and granted me a portion of your time.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the dialogue, to share my words with you, and in turn to read the ones you have shared with me.  

Words have power.  And I have read every single one you have left here.

Comments

[Evelyn Wangari]

This is a powerful post. Kindly keep sharing with us

[virginia]

Great and powerful words, thanks for sharing

[Carolyne]

Well said. Every word has an impact to the audience and one must watch before uttering words. The power and art of communication should be respected.

[patrick kariuki]

keep it up

[Sara Tucker]

Hello from NM. Your page every day gives me hope.I voted for Hillary the sane smart one. I am horrified at people that voted for the orange man?
Your words so elegant and to the point help me cope and give me hope for a better day.I am a good friend of Robin Holbrook who put me on to your web site. Faithful follower i am.
Thanks
Sara Tucker

[Rejj Smooth]

To antagonize 65 million people is the way civil wars are begun. How can we get the people who support the Orange Cheetoh to realize that by holding on to more humane perspectives they will actually improve THEIR quality of life?

[Walter]

I found you threw one of my Facebook friends. You are very talented, with a brilliant mind and a heart of gold. I love your style of writing. The accuracy and attacks are razor sharp. Thanks for all you do.

[nikki in ny]

Well, Linda, you really rattled some cages. The comments on your last article were all over the place, especially by the Trump supporters. Words do matter. I have often though you should have a syndicated column in the papers.

[Charlotte Ann Rotherham O'Brien]

I highly appreciate your words. They helped me tremendously with your facts, clarity and Validation of my own feelings. As you referred to those words above, I want to throw them back at ya, for your own validation & appreciation. I'M certain thou hast helped many more than just me, & I'm so thankful that Something/one got you started:)!!!

[Norm]

338 million Americans (based on 2010 308mil census w/ ave 9.5% annual increase) less the 127mil who voted leaves roughly 211million Americans who also voted for the Republican Administration by proxy. By abstaining they also implicitly supported the basic belief half of us are less equal and so deserving of less. The idea the abstainers may have unintentionally supported repression of civil liberties only because Republicans won is false because lack of a vote against such obvious hatred exclusion and aggression is a vote for it.

[Charlotte Ann Rotherham O'Brien]

Thank you so much for your words. Keep talking, validation is motivating. Your words generate energy to keep hope alive. I agree that Strumpets (Supporters of Trump) will suffer the consequences of their actions & that will suffice to change their words & actions. Words from Tich Naht Hahn: "Hostility cannot stop hostility", and Ghandi "Be the change you want to see",feel to me like the best guides to my actions & the most effective way to be able to come to Live the change I want to see. Our Statue of Liberty, though now her tears are flowing, embodies the core American values. We have to stop those tears.

[Tena Dodds Waters]

Humanity. Yes, this isn't about politics anymore. Humanity is at stake. And that's why I continue to speak out despite the fact that they continue to try to intimidate me. Thank you for sharing your words, they are powerful and sincere. I'm happy to hear that people are sharing your work, you deserve it and people need to read it.

[Keven]

I didn't vote for Trump since I adhere to strict Constitutional policies. Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same coin. Year after year a read and watch the same diatribe from bloggists and commenters, and before that in the Op-Ed section of the newspaper. It didn't matter who was voted into office, there was a very intelligent and proficient writer putting down the words so eloquently that I always felt like standing and cheering at the end. This, and especially your previous writing, are perfect examples of this. You're very compelling to read. And humorous, too. You write with passion and sincerity. So much like all the others that hold to their beliefs every bit as much as you do.
The fact remains that our government has strayed so far from its Constitutional values, I don't know that it can be saved. It certainly can't with either of the two major parties controlling it. They're both after the same thing, and they only tell us what we need to hear to vote for them. Behind closed doors, they run this Country with a completely different objective. If we start asking too many questions, all of a sudden there's a major news story or crisis somewhere to divert our attention. How many promises has any President kept by the end of his term? Meaningful, long-lasting changes? You can bet that for most actions by a President, or by our Government in general, there's a motive behind that's not clear to us. It's been far too long since our government has worked for us.
I encourage everyone to thoroughly read our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and make an attempt to understand what they actually mean to us as individuals, as States, and as a Country. I'm not a Constitutional scholar, just an everyday person. I know enough to understand that we've lost our way, that we've given up liberty for security, and that road keeps rolling downhill into a pit. It's the same for so many other rights we have, but have turned over to the government because we been led to believe we're not trustworthy enough to take care of ourselves. Now, we don't believe we have those rights, but we do. When questioned by authorities, when given new laws, when told you have to abide by new rules, we've been conditioned to go along, because our government will take care of us. It doesn't matter who is in charge, your government will fail you. And the media, yes even your entertaining bloggers, are there to make sure you stay the course.

[Debra]

I continue to be ashamed and feel sorry for my family members that still support the liar in chief. Thank you for your words. They're right on.

[SK]

Sitting here in Canada but completely agree with everything you said, both today and yesterday! Never in a million years did I think Americans would allow him to win! Sadly my son did. Humanity has to win or else there is nothing!

[chris]

It was posted on the Keith Olbermann fan page in facebook!

[Tracy in Cincinnati]

Our little "family" continues to grow and we are finding people like us from all walks of life thanks to your words Linda.
Thank you. Keep on doing what you do, and we will keep holding out hope that the orange one will get his sooner, rather than later.

[Glenda Monroe]

Thank you and PLEASE keep sharing your words! They are always powerful ❤

[Bobbsey]

Nailed it.

[Audreyf]

Perfection.