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Choose your words carefully

 

I was having a conversation with my wife this morning while we were drinking our coffee and watching the news.  All the news stations are still reporting on the tragic shooting in Arizona.  It is a sad situation and my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

 

Now on to the reason for my writing this blog.  A lot of people are pointing fingers at Sarah Palin for her words and a map that appeared on her website which showed cross-hairs over certain districts, one of them was over Gabrielle Gifford’s District.  Just to set the record straight I am NOT a fan of Sarah Palin, but it is time to stop the finger pointing and to think about what we say or write.  There are many people in this country (world) that will take what certain people say literally.  Can we say for sure if the comments made by Sarah Palin “It’s not a time to retreat. It’s a time to reload.” led to the shooting in Arizona ?  No we can’t, but can we say that is did not ? No we can’t.

 

Growing up our parents taught us “Sticks and stones can break your bones but names can never hurt you”.  It is time for all politicians and people in the public eye to take a second and think about what they say or do.  Will what you say or do be taken literally by some ?  If there is even an inkling that it might be… Don’t say it.

 

The First Amendment gives us the right of freedom of speech, but it is against the law to yell “fire” in a crowded theater if there is no fire.  Just because you have the right to say what you want, doesn’t mean you always should. What kind of example are we setting for future generations.  Many people are saying that the founding fathers of our country and politicians thereafter also used some strong words during political campaigns.  Just because it was done doesn’t mean it was right.  We also thought at that time it was also OK to keep other humans as slaves.

 

Take time to think before you speak.