Maybe you noticed my Bye-Bye Blue Jays post had a pretty good reception? Maybe you were one of the people who commented on it? If you did, thank you, bad or good comments, I appreciate them, and your time in viewing. You’re words meant a lot to me, maybe more than you know in this anxious time of wondering if I’ll be a baseball player next season.
I can’t help but be astounded at the turn out that post garnered, which keeps coming in now a week after the fact. So much touching sentiment directed to a career minor leaguer who did nothing more than take the time to say a few gracious comments to a very gracious city. I guess it just goes to show you how far a few kind words can go. Actually, let’s strip that down even further and simply say it just goes to show you how far words can go, especially in this unfiltered, easily manipulated, digitally transmitted world we live in.
Recently, with the tragedy in Tucson, I think it has become blatantly apparent at just how far the wrong words can go. Language and meaning— easy to learn, hard to master, and damaging if used incorrectly. They say sticks and stones break bones, but words can never hurt. I beg to differ. Words do more damage that any rock or tree limb ever could.
I’ve been thinking a lot about those words lately. I’ve been thinking about them because I feel the use of rhetoric, especially in political venues, has gotten a bit toxic as of late and I wish there was more accountability. I wish some political talk shows didn’t sound meatheads in suits reading pro wrestling fight scripts. I wish radio wasn’t saturated with polarizing name calling aimed at those who do not see issues the way the guy with the mic does. I wish people with public mouthpieces in general had more awareness concerning the ramifications of their words beyond pandering to what their constituents itching ears wanted to hear.
Sadly, well thought, articulate, and even-tempered views don’t sell as well as juicy, sensational, inciting blabber. I know this first hand—you think there wasn’t pressure on me to name names in my book? (And I’m not well thought, articulate, or even tempered!) I realize hoping for a filter or a mute on any voice in our great country appears to defeat the first amendment. But, the exercising of common sense is not a violation of the spirit of the constitution, is it? We can say anything we want, but does that mean we need to say it? And, simply because it’s wrapped up in a suit and placed in front of a camera, does it become more credible or deserve more obedience?
I wanted to say this in my goodbye to Canada but it didn’t seem to fit at the time. Now I feel like it has a place. When I was in Canada, I respected its hate speech laws. I never felt like there was a detraction of freedom under them, rather, I felt there was an almost palpable sense of goodwill. I realize Canada is not a utopia of delicious breakfast meats, hockey, and gentle rhetoric, but its open intolerance of inciting hatred concerning groups of people through speech does seem wise— especially when veiwed through the lens of tragedy. Everyone has the right to coexist, no need to tear others down; a basic lesson we learned as kids. In many ways, Hate Speech laws seem the logical extension of freedom, though, I admit it could go either way depending on how you look at it. I guess that’s what I’m sorting out here as my words are as much for me as you.
Maybe I’m over reacting to the events in Tuscon. But, it seems to me that if we can’t take accountability for the damage our words can do, or inspire to do, should there be a higher power keeping us accountable on them? And, if there were, would that really be so bad? Honestly, I don’t know. I do know, however, I don’t want any more incidents like what we witnessed this past Saturday happening in any country that upholds democracy as its chosen path of settling issues. If watching what I say when I have the floor helps prevent such tragedies from happening, well, I can hold a few P’s and Q’s if you can.
My thoughts and prayers go out to victims and families affected by the tragedy in Tucson. I hope this tragedy is swiftly over shadowed by the greater good it stirs from us all.