Apparently Republicans want us to believe that words have no power to affect people.

[elocs]

Do they take us for fools?

If words have no power to affect people then what is the reason for the constant flood vitriolic bile that the right spews toward Democrats and Liberals, their ideas and policies? Why do the right wing talking heads then use words to incite their minions to believe that violence directed toward those who do not drink their kool aide is acceptable?

If words really do not have the power to affect people, to cause lives and countries to be changed, why did the Republicans in the House of Representatives insist that the words of the Constitution of the United States be read aloud at the opening of their session? Those words certainly had and have the power the power to affect people and change lives, and they are at the foundation of our nation.

Many of the conservative right claim to be Christians and to revere their holy Bible, their scriptures, the Word of God. They would claim that the words of the Bible are words to live by, that those words change lives, but now they claim that words are just words.

Words certainly do have the power to affect people and to changes lives. Words can be used to build up and to edify people, making a path to better lives. Words can also be used to destroy, words of hate, hurt, and evil.

Words when freed from tongue, pen, or keyboard will fly where they will but they will find their way to fertile soil. Words of hate will find their way to fester in the hearts of those who welcome them like an old friend. Yet positive words of love, hope, and encouragement that build better lives have great power and can prevail as long as those of us who believe in them fight the good fight against the words of hate and greed.

Words indeed have great power to affect people and that has always been true. Let us not allow the words of hate to triumph, to steal the soul of our nation, to bully the good into submission and acquiescence. Republicans expect us to roll over, let's show them some Democratic fight and prove to the nation that our words have power.

[jody]

1. Words do have power but as Abraham Lincoln said "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the

people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember it or overthrow it."

[babylonsister]

2. Recommend. Your words are eloquent-thank you. nt

[Permanut]

3. "Words mean things"

As read by Rush Limbaugh on his radio show, Friday, February 18, 1994. Follow your guru, dittoheads.

[GeorgeGist]

4. All that money wasted ...

on Advertising what they have to offer.

[Rex]

5. Sick little freaks, the worst are the ones that come here and pretend

to be real DUers.

[elocs]

6. I still do not understand how the right can claim that their words make no difference.

If words are so feckless, then the right wing wastes a lot of their time spewing their words of hate.

Those with mental illness are far more impressionable when they hear words of hate that call for action, particularly if they are already paranoid schizophrenics (yes, we do not know, but those of us who are familiar with ducks would say that he sure writes, sounds, and acts like a duck), particularly those who are already prone to anger and violence and seek out guns.

I have a 19 year old goddaughter who is for all practical purposes staying with me and for whom I am largely responsible for her well being and she is a paranoid schizophrenic although her mental illness is well under control with medications. However, if she was psychotic and was hearing words of hate and calls to action against a certain group of people it is quite possible that she would be moved to act upon them quite literally.

Words have power that can change and motivate people, that can change nations and history. Yet words of hate, vitriol, and calls for violence against a certain group of people have consequences and those who choose to use such words and language bear responsibility for those consequences.