A human characteristic is the ability to speak,to converse, to give instruction, to make our opinions known. We talk. We use our tongues–sometimes without thinking, and sometimes very intentionally.
Our speech is directed to another, a listener. The listener may be a child, a friend, a family member, or a stranger in the grocery store. Regardless of who or where, what we say to each other matters. Speech is a gift to be used with care. I would suggest loving care, though I’m often guilty of overlooking that.
Matthew 12:36 says, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Wow! That’s a lot of personal responsibility.
Yet what we say to each other is not always done with words. Often it’s what we D0 that speaks loudest. How do our actions speak to our vulnerable children, or the friends and family who learn from us? Are we responsible in our actions as parents and teachers, leaders and co-workers? Do we practice what we preach? Again, many of us often fall far short of that. It’s a good thing we have personal control over what we do, and if needed, the ability to correct ourselves.
There are times though, when we’re not the ‘speakers’ or the ‘doers,’ but the receivers, the targets of speech and action. Over this, we have little control, and no doubt the voices and actions are loud–the media, movies and movie stars, TV, newspapers, books. Except each of these segments are made up of individuals, too. And many of them are spouting out propaganda as if is truth–all to cause harm to another person–most specifically, the President of the United States.
The propagandists are like schoolyard bullies who didn’t win their game and so attempt to rough-ride over those who did win. They show not an an ounce of respect for the office of the presidency, or the votes of millions of their fellow Americans. They talk and talk and talk, because talk is ALL they have.
On a personal basis, are these individuals any less responsible than any other person for what they say and do? Don’t they, too, have a responsibility to tell the truth, and to correct themselves and their lies?
But if they continue with their propaganda, then what is our responsibility?
We have an obligation to turn them off, and NOT LISTEN to them at all.
Translating a World on the Edge 