EARLIER this year, this column spoke about “words” – and how these five little letters can change moods, attitudes, and sometimes upset a whole lot of people in the process.
Little did I know that the shooting of activist Charlie Kirk in America would have such a ripple effect on how some people view that situation.
Without going too deeply into the story, Charlie Kirk was an activist who fiercely believed in many things that much of the general community would find confronting.
However, he was still allowed to “preach” his doctrine to anyone who would listen – protected by the freedom of speech America is known for. Yet, America is changing fast, by decree or by design, and the outcome is yet to be seen.
It seems that freedom of speech is no longer a hallowed right.
A talk show host on ABC America, who merely mentioned that one side was trying to blame the other for the shooting – probably just echoing the thoughts of others – had his show cancelled indefinitely.
His bosses, unwilling to go against a government directive suggesting that defiance would bring repercussions and make ABC less effective, caved in.
Like many before them, they experienced that creeping sense of a “dictator element” edging into American life.
It just goes to show how words can have such power – enough to change a nation’s thinking.
As we get older, our choice of words becomes sharper and more meaningful.
We use words to express our thoughts and feelings with purpose and precision.
It’s often said that English is a difficult language to learn because so many words sound the same but have different meanings.
Even writing these columns each week can be a challenge – not wanting to confuse a “where we were” with a “bare” or a “bear” table!
It can be tricky at times. Thank goodness for spellcheck!
These days, you can ask Google AI just about anything and get an instant, thoughtful answer. Try it!
From what a drug does, to how many white flowers exist, to what might ail you, or even the latest news on a company you’re interested in – just type in your question.
The average person knows between 20,000 and 40,000 words.
That might sound like a lot, but everything we see, touch, do or say has a word for it.
Writing these columns is always thought-provoking.
It’s a challenge not only to share a story but also to convey a thought process – something for readers to reflect on.
And so, one soon realises that “words” – those five little letters – truly can change the world, for good or for bad.
