The Power of Words…Grow Up People

These stairs are located at an anciet temple in Kyoto, Japan. The site was used by Samurai and leaders to meet and discuss. People gathered on the steps to listen, speak, share and debate. I imagine that political issues and concepts were topics of conversation all too often. The speakers and audience sat or stood on these steps rallying back and forth over the topics of the day. In the end they were all protected by the same walls, borders and leaders so they had to find a way to not only get along but live together in harmony. 

I think we Americans have a lot we can learn from these steps. We seem to be stuck in communication turmoil. We throw accusations and names, nasty remarks and slurs at each other through the media, social networking and any other form of communication we can find. Political parties and beliefs are attacked, belittled, insulted and degraded in public forums without thought or concern for how it is impacting the people or the relationship. We have forgotten that what made this nation great was our fight for freedom of speech. That allowing someone else to believe differently than we do, and to sit and listen patiently while they profess their belief in peace is what freedom is all about. Not everyone is right, yet in this country we have the freedom to speak without fear. 

As Americans we do not all believe the same things. We do not worship the same, eat the same, live the same or spend the same. We do not love the same or stand up for the same things. At times like these it seems as if there is not much we can agree on, so the nastiness is spread evenly across both sides. We sling the mud and create scars from insult and injury that may not heal. Families, coworkers, relatives and friends stop communicating because we can’t agree to disagree. 

These steps remind me that people centuries ago found a way to communicate and live together – a time when everyone carried a very sharp sword – and yet we as more sophisticated people cannot do the same. Instead of spending time degrading each other, why not remember what we love about this country and cherish the ability to think freely? Arguing and yelling, outbursts and inflamed media use is getting us no where. Its time to get on the same steps, listen to each other and figure out how to move forward together as a country. It is time to let the power of words unite us instead of divide us. Grow up people and be thankful for what we have…