Words matter. Words shape our lives and our ideals. They tell our stories and express our pain. They are what we use to tell someone we love them and how deeply we care. One of a parent's proudest moments is when their child utters its first word.
We all have a favorite, song, book, poem, movie, story, punch line or record. Those are all words. Words matter. If you have posted one of those memes stating how "you are less offended by his words than her actions" or "They are just words" or "So what? He said some mean things" in order to justify your political choice for this election cycle I have some words for you.
For starters, words might be just words but once used, written, spoken, sung or interpreted, they have just taken action. There is action in using words. And while Donald Trump very well might have not actually physically assaulted any of the dozen women who have come forward and said that he did. He has very much sexually assaulted every single woman who heard the tape.
When a woman hears, "Grab em by the pussy" guess what happens? They all imagine getting grabbed by the pussy. And for the millions of women who it has actually happened to, he just triggered some dark, painful, embarrassing, humiliating, degrading emotional wounds. The avalanche of thousands of women now coming forward with their own horrifying and painful stories on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, talk shows and in private is proof of that. So don't tell me that those are just words and that they don't mean anything.
And let's keep in mind that these are not just words that some rich guy spewed to compensate for some kind of emotional or physical shortcoming. These are words that now go down in American history. These are words that your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on will read in history classes for the rest of time. These are words that are now a part of our permanent vernacular and it's not like its some some pop culture phenomenon. Those words now hold a place among other Presidential eloquence such as:
"Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who make excuses." ― George Washington
"Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God." ― Ronald Reagan
"If tyranny and oppression come to this land it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." ― James Madison
"If national pride is ever justifiable or excusable it is when it springs, not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, but from conviction of national innocence, information, and benevolence." - John Adams
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists." ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Don't wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope." ― Barack Obama
"I've gotta use some tic tacs, just in case I start kissing her. And when you're a star they let you do it... Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything." - Donald Trump
Words Matter.
Am I the only one who is outraged and embarrassed by this? Never mind the sheer vulgarity of it. Forget for a moment, the rape culture that type of language perpetuates. Am I the only who understands the importance of our President to be articulate, poignant and eloquent?
It's not just those particular words that bother me. He seems to have virtually no grasp of the English language. He constantly makes up words that don't exist, destroys sentence structure, misappropriates phrasing, uses long- winded run-on sentences that make no sense and basically ignores all proper use of grammar.
The leader of the free world is not just charged with passing laws or upholding the constitution. They are a role model for the children growing up not just in this country but around the world. They are a spokesperson for the citizens of the United States of America. They must be able to negotiate with foreign leaders. They will deliver keynote speeches at colleges and universities. They will give the State of the Union Address. They will use their words far more than their executive actions to shape the globe.
Yes, I agree that actions can speak louder than words and I have a few that I would like to see from Mr. Trump. I would like to see him express some regret and humility. I would like to see him show some grace and generosity. I would like to see him bestow kindness and take some accountability.
I would like to see him stand up like a real man and instead of brushing it off as no big deal and apologizing "if it offended anyone", use it as a platform to be an actual leader and role model. I would like to see him say to the men everywhere, young and old, that this type of locker room talk is wrong. No matter who says it and that it has to change. I would like to see him say that if men hear another man say something like that to stand up against it. I would like to see him tell women that he is sorry. Not if he offended us but because those words degraded us, demoralized us, marginalized us and made us into objects that can be taken by anyone who feels entitled to us.
Those are a few actions that might speak louder to me than his ugly, embarrassing words. But so far, all we get is Meh. "They are just words", "Such a nasty woman".
When teachers inspire children they do so with their words. That box of old love letters and cards you have tucked away are meaningless without the words. If you bow your head at night and cast your prayers to a higher power, you do so with your words. When you stand at an altar and give your heart and life to someone it is the words in the vows that deliver your promises. When someone you love dies, its inevitable that you mind will forever remember those precious last words you exchanged. When you hear a song that brings you to tears, it's the words that affect you. When you read a book or watch a film that changes your life, it's in the words.
Vote however you want. But words matter very much. Stop pretending that they don't.