Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913

Why Speech Matters

I can think back to the worst moments in our history, and find some inspiring tales. “Give me liberty, or give me death,” Patrick Henry. “For I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country,” George Washington. “My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth,” Abraham Lincoln. Or, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” John F. Kennedy. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

My point is that throughout history, leaders chose their words carefully. They sought to unite, even amongst conflict and debate. They sought to reassure amidst doubt and rebellion. They worked for the greater good of our nation, even if they suffered personally or politically. Those countless leaders, generals, and politicians had the betterment of our society in mind. They furthered its ideal of “All men are created equal.”

In other places in the world there have been those leaders who sought to divide, play coy with words, or be reckless with how they spoke on issues of great importance. They usually dug up hatred towards groups that were marginalized and used it to maintain fear and power. We call them dictators.

They usually spoke pretty clearly, but tangled people around lies and loops or didn’t directly represent the truth. Here are their own words. “Make the lie big. Make it simple. Keep saying it, and eventually people will believe it,” said Adolf Hitler. “Let us have a dagger between our teeth, a bomb in our hands, and an infinite scorn in our hearts,” said Benito Mussolini. “What good fortune for governments that the people do not think,” Adolf Hitler. “I’m the object of criticism around the world, but I think that since I am being discussed, I am on the right track,” Kim Jung Il. “The Ottoman Empire should be cleaned up of the Armenians and the Lebanese. We have destroyed the former by the sword; we shall destroy the latter through starvation,” Ismail Enver Pasha.

Every one of the above mentioned men have been judged harshly by history. They were narcissistic, cold blooded, and masters at saying the right thing so one side heard them and the other was puzzled. The irony being that at their time, either in their country or abroad, they were not as harshly critiqued. They were lauded for intelligence, simple speech that appealed to the masses, and forward leaning ideas. In truth, however, they did the opposite of what a good leader does. They divided. They pitted the strong against the weak. They sought to create fear. They sought to maintain power through violence or through human indifference. They sought to rule the feeble minded by confusing them when it mattered and beseeching them in the simplest of terms to take action. They were master manipulators. They dodged questions and painted distractions. In short they were evil. But I digress.

Our nation is in dire need of unity, leadership, mastery of what our values should be, and careful contemplation of the language we present it with. In light of Nuclear War. In light of resurgent racism, and in light of fear and hatred we must work together to fulfill the wish of Abraham Lincoln, “ My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.” He had two more quotes that fit the present situation, “No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar,” and “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”

 

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