It's Just a Word

It's just a word.
The constant coverage of what a white southern woman said decades ago has got to come to an end. I am of the opinion that we give words the power to heal, the power to hurt, the power to build and the power to destroy. The fact that we spend so much of our culture's existence on this one word is beginning to come to a point where we have lost sight of things that actually matter.

It's just a word.
"But it represents hatred, centuries of atrocities against a group of people, and this country's darkest decision made during its founding." I can see that, and I can almost believe it too. I struggle because if a word has that much power, the power to bring up memories of its afflictions, then that word should always accomplish that, no matter who feels the need to utter it. The fact that an individual of one racial persuasion should have their lives destroyed for uttering this staple of hatred once, while those of another racial persuasion can repeat this word of hate multiple times in a three minute span to some kick-ass beats get rewarded; that is what makes me struggle to understand why this word is so bad.

It's just a word.
It may have represented centuries of hatred and atrocities, but it has begun to represent decades of injustice and inequality. I am convinced that at no point during the civil rights movement the goal was not only racial equality, but the establishment of rules related to this one word that would allow those that had been oppressed for so long to finally have an upper hand to take down those that had kept them down for so long. No, I'm pretty sure that was not the case; yet it is the reality. "Equality for everyone! But that's our word. If you say it, it represents hate. If we say it, it represents empowerment." That's a load of crap, and probably the finest definition of racism I've ever heard.

It's just a word.
And a powerful word at that. Not once have I used that word, but we all know what word I'm talking about. So many words in the English lexicon and we all know the one I'm referring to. That is power, but again, it's also crap. It would be wrong for me to use the actual word at any point in this post, regardless of the academia associated with it. However, it would be completely acceptable for me to use the grammatically equivalent version of this word; the one where I use the first letter of this word and follow it with the word word. Apparently, I would be allowed to say that without offending anyone, but again, would not be allowed to use the actual word. It's akin to watching a show where characters say "frack" all the time and hearing my kids giggle. They're not giggling because "frack" is a funny word; they're giggling because the character just said "fuck" without hearing the distracting beep. I'm sorry, but that same damn thing. SyFy shows have to use frack if they want to say fuck; HBO shows can say fuck. Those are the exact same rules for this word: people like me can't say the word; we can use a substitute, but not the actual word.

It's just a word.
I get that it's a hurtful word. I understand that it's a hateful word. I could give examples of hateful, hurtful words I was called growing up, but I'm also aware that it's not the same thing. I'm aware that people with medical disabilities, sexual orientations, or even their passion for a hobby or interest will never feel the full impact of hurtful words such as that one. To have to live through the oral and documented history of that word cannot compare to the hurtfulness created every day by those that feel they are more superior to others that words become their most powerful weapon. I'm mocking you, by the way. Among many others, these "faggots" and "retards" don't speak out against the use of hurtful words while simultaneously using the words themselves. If it's a word people cannot use, then it is a word that cannot be used.

It's just a word.
Such a powerful word. You know how words get their power? We give it to them. You know how they lose their power? Yep, that'd be us too. I try to teach my kids that words are just that - words. If someone calls you a name, recognize it as their attempt to bring you down to their level. Either they feel threatened by you that they feel throwing a hurtful word at you will even things out, or they're ignorant and maintain their flawed perspective of superiority by using it. I no longer want to hear the "we can use it but you can't" argument for this word. If this word is truly this hurtful, this hateful - if it truly represents centuries of atrocities towards a race of people that built this nation - if this is all true, then this word should be removed from our language. It should not be allowed to be said, to be written, to be remembered. If we ever truly want to believe that equality exists, we must never utter this staple of oppression and hate. That will never happen because this word, this one word that was never uttered here, has too much power. The power to destroy. The power to divide. The power to ignite debates. These aren't powers it had centuries ago. No, these are recent powers we have given it. We - collectively as a society.

It's just a word.