Stew is delicious until it’s scorched and burned; then, it becomes distasteful, unpalatable, and even repugnant. We have the privilege of free speech in America, yet depending on how we use this freedom, it can become like a spoiled disgusting stew. We have instituted anti-bullying rules at schools (with thousands of people who have advocated for it), yet bullying is all over social media.
In public, sometimes, people are attacked verbally and physically by the way they look, without even speaking a word. Censorship is rising to unbelievable heights on the news as well as on social media. If you don’t believe like me, if you don’t uphold the same cause, if you aren’t of the same political affiliation, if you own your home, have gone to college, have your own business, if you like/dislike the president, if you advocate for the unborn, if you want to keep a gun to protect your family, if you stand up for good police officers, if you don’t kneel for criminals, if you love and worship God, if you love this great country’s flag and the land it represents. For heaven’s sake–these views somehow give someone the right to call you names, cuss you out, or beat you to a pulp. The list is endless.
It’s like you can’t say a word without being accused of something. “Friends” in the social media world become offended. Accusations sling and bullseye–you’ve become a bigot, a racist, white-privileged, deplorable, crazy, insensitive, offensive, or an extremist. You are even unfriended, and hated. Don’t get me started on the vulgar cuss words slung in your face (some people ought to have their mouths scrubbed out with soap!)
Some people skip the relationship, leap at any idea that sounds plausible (whether true or false), jump to conclusions, and run off at the mouth. Even people who should know your character turn on a dime, let you have it, and how! For example, a student of mine from years ago commented on a post I had on my page. Within his comment, he used a vile word with an asterisk for the vowel. I do not use words like that and do not want them on my page. I asked him politely to remove the curse word. He said it was the epitome of white privilege for me to ask that. Really?
What has happened to our society that we can no longer afford to listen to each other and dialogue without offense and contempt? Wherever we are in the mix, we all have something that needs fixing inside ourselves. We all fall short of the glory of God.
I say, throw off offense like the wretched cockroach it is. Let’s speak as though our grandparents or pastors are listening to every word. God is. Please, let us treat each other how we want to be treated. Listen to other’s points of view without suspicion, contempt, or argumentative intent. Ponder, agree, or disagree. Maybe we even agree to disagree. May we not enjoy playing on the devil’s playground where sin abounds. Sin may seem fun, but it has a ripple effect that the current takes and spins into a hurricane, wreaking havoc. It kills relationships and causes hatred to flourish until trust is gone and our hope in humanity is lost.
Kaci Rigney 