The Power of Silence
There are many sayings in the English language about silence:
Aside from its use as a powerful tool, it is a great way to protect yourself. Roseanne, the doctor who espoused views on the pay gap, and baseball players who made remarks on Twitter have all faced the consequences of publicly stating their prejudices and spreading their brand of hate or discontent. Even James Gunn, the director of a $1.6 billion franchise was fired from his movie because of tweets that were made 7 years ago, which puts the franchise on delay and in jeopardy as at least one of his actors has threatened to quit. Not only does the action delay the film and the profits for the studio, it threatens the jobs of hundreds of people who would have worked on the film.
The freedom of speech is the First Amendment. However, hate speech, even in jest, is not acceptable under societal rules of conduct and good manners, especially in an age where social media destroys context clues like time and tone. People who say they have a right to shout racist epithets and use hurtful language to others are not just rude and insensitive; they are also jerks. No one has to say everything that comes to his or her mind. Just because a thought is in your head, doesn’t mean you have to share it or that it is valid. In the age of social media, let’s take it literally, be social, be kind, and keep your anti-social thoughts where they can’t hurt you or anyone else. Better yet, find out how to change those thoughts, so they are representative of a decent person on a journey with other people to the grave. We all end in death, let’s make the trip enjoyable. Mom always said it best -- If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
Sources: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201312/20-quotes-silence
https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Guardians-of-the-Galaxy#tab=summary
Read about the Power of Words
Read Sticks and Stones and Words
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- Silence is golden.
- Children should be seen and not heard.
- It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
- Still waters run deep.
- Silence is a source of great strength. - Lao Tzu
- Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence. - Leonardo da Vinci
- In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Aside from its use as a powerful tool, it is a great way to protect yourself. Roseanne, the doctor who espoused views on the pay gap, and baseball players who made remarks on Twitter have all faced the consequences of publicly stating their prejudices and spreading their brand of hate or discontent. Even James Gunn, the director of a $1.6 billion franchise was fired from his movie because of tweets that were made 7 years ago, which puts the franchise on delay and in jeopardy as at least one of his actors has threatened to quit. Not only does the action delay the film and the profits for the studio, it threatens the jobs of hundreds of people who would have worked on the film.
The freedom of speech is the First Amendment. However, hate speech, even in jest, is not acceptable under societal rules of conduct and good manners, especially in an age where social media destroys context clues like time and tone. People who say they have a right to shout racist epithets and use hurtful language to others are not just rude and insensitive; they are also jerks. No one has to say everything that comes to his or her mind. Just because a thought is in your head, doesn’t mean you have to share it or that it is valid. In the age of social media, let’s take it literally, be social, be kind, and keep your anti-social thoughts where they can’t hurt you or anyone else. Better yet, find out how to change those thoughts, so they are representative of a decent person on a journey with other people to the grave. We all end in death, let’s make the trip enjoyable. Mom always said it best -- If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
Sources: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201312/20-quotes-silence
https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Guardians-of-the-Galaxy#tab=summary
Read about the Power of Words
Read Sticks and Stones and Words
Read Words, Labels and Stereotypes
Read about the Power to Create