March 2010

For Goodness’ Sake

By Jack Oatmon

You saw the fury and public revulsion over his comment.  I’m not digging it up for cheap drama, but to establish a premise:  The “words can never hurt me” adage seems as bogus today as it did when I was a child. Inescapably, words can most definitely hurt.  Granted, they may not break bones like those pesky sticks and stones… but on the other hand, sticks don’t cut like a knife.

The passage could be described as a slap in the face to compassionate humans everywhere. I suspect that to Haitians, those words feel more like a punch in the pills.

It’s interesting to note how many of our expressions relate words to physical effects. I can “uplift” you with the right words, or I can “smack you down.”  All without actually lifting a finger!  My wife reminded me that words can “comfort” a child just as if we held him.  A few well-placed words can close your eyes for slumber or shake you awake.

Words play a big part in Smart Power for conflict reduction. What we say to or about another creates a perception as real as the monuments we raise with our hands. Words fashion impressions, impressions flow into action.  (When I hear such obscenities as, “We should bomb the Middle East into a parking lot,” I ask the speaker to travel back there with me so he can select the child upon whom the first bomb should land.)

Many readers know I am a retired SEAL and have a black belt in traditional jujutsu. I’ve been hit many, many times.  None of those blows, however, had the same effect of the (mercifully few) times when words have “floored” me like “a punch in the gut.”  I’ve never been knocked out by getting slugged, but over my 43 years on the planet, I have occasionally been “staggered” by devastating news.

The right words can make the strongest man cry like a baby.  My wife also points out that words can have a “crushing” effect or “break” a heart.  Many professionals have been “stabbed in the back.”  I have to admit I was somewhat skeptical about Pastor Robertson’s declaration that his all-merciful God mutilated thousands of babies because of a deal made by their government two centuries ago. Since I understand he likes to teach from one book above all others – and since I happen to keep that same book on my nightstand – I cracked it open and searched the back for references to caring about suffering people.  I was directed to the 12^th verse of Colossians 3:

Now those words ring a little more true, I think.  I can imagine them inspiring the determined work of many hands, carrying some hope to the shattered Haitian people.  I can only imagine this article’s opening words, that all Haitians basically had it coming, leading to impotent apathy about inconceivable human agony… I’d like to share one final group of words extracted verbatim from a forum discussing the Robertson speech:

“I'm 13 and I use 2 go 2 church until my parents saw this.  They panicked and didn’t want me to end up like that....”

Be good,

JackO