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1/ We are getting a daily—hourly—lesson in the many ways that words matter.
Remember that old rhyme? “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me?”
That calculus changes when people in power are strategically—repeatedly—deploying those names.
Remember that old rhyme? “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me?”
That calculus changes when people in power are strategically—repeatedly—deploying those names.
2/ Used as weapons by people in power, words can do incredible damage.
They can create “out” groups.
They can dehumanize.
They can thereby chip away at fundamental rights.
They can endanger—and cost—lives.
They can create “out” groups.
They can dehumanize.
They can thereby chip away at fundamental rights.
They can endanger—and cost—lives.
3/ The “bully pulpit” of the presidency is, indeed, a *bully* pulpit when used as a weapon.
4/ Of course, people in power use words to sway the public all the time
It’s part of their job.
As the founding generation said time & again, public opinion matters profoundly in a republic
Shaping public opinion is part of the apparatus of power.
Words do much of that work.
It’s part of their job.
As the founding generation said time & again, public opinion matters profoundly in a republic
Shaping public opinion is part of the apparatus of power.
Words do much of that work.
5/ A politics of public opinion can be a subtle thing.
As a newspaper commentator in the 1790s put it, government in a republic is government by sleight of hand.
And human emotion—“simple” human emotion—is part of that calculus.
A calculus effected by words.
As a newspaper commentator in the 1790s put it, government in a republic is government by sleight of hand.
And human emotion—“simple” human emotion—is part of that calculus.
A calculus effected by words.
6/ Thus the many, many times that people in power in the 1850s reminded one another: words matter.
Wielded by people in power, they can rouse emotions that are hard to tamp down once unleashed
It was for good reason that Congressmen called harsh language on the floor “missiles”
Wielded by people in power, they can rouse emotions that are hard to tamp down once unleashed
It was for good reason that Congressmen called harsh language on the floor “missiles”
7/ Last fall on BBC Newsnight, I insisted that the president’s words have added power; when a power holder—particularly the president—preaches hate, it has an impact.
A DJT administration official shot back that words were “just words.”
She was wrong.
trendsmap.com/twitter/tweet/…
A DJT administration official shot back that words were “just words.”
She was wrong.
trendsmap.com/twitter/tweet/…
8/ Each day, we’re seeing new ways in which fundamental rights of citizenship can be chipped away.
Targeted hate speech by those in power is fueling this process.
Please don’t take those rights for granted.
The power of hate speech is mighty when wielded by those in power.
Targeted hate speech by those in power is fueling this process.
Please don’t take those rights for granted.
The power of hate speech is mighty when wielded by those in power.
