once said

My mother was a quiet woman. She felt that actions many times could be louder than any word muttered, murmured or shouted. She seldom spoke badly about anyone and when on the receiving end of gossip, many times shook her head and said in a silent whisper, its a shame all they can find is dirt that they left on the carpet in the first place.

My mother believed that words could be infectious and the disease they left behind once said aloud, could be an instant injury or a disease that lingered way too long and would destroy a life in the long run.

My mother cautioned her kids on what we say, and how we say it. She understood anger, frustration and the frailty of ego and knew to lash out was common and when lashing out we often used our muscle and not our minds.

It was difficult as a youngster to yell and scream at anyone and to call them names, and if we were caught some kind of lecture would certainly befall us causing us to actually think about our actions. At times my sisters and I tried to control our frustration and most times we stated words we would later regret but words that felt good to scream at the time. And my mother would just ask us if the name calling, the innuendo, the fact-less fiction we used to make us look better would still make sense a day, week or month from now?

My mother insisted that unless we really were sure of who the devil was, who the bad guy was, who really was guilty or the culprit, perhaps we had to hold the hate and investigate the truth.

Recently, in America starting in 2010 we have heard from many Republican/Baggers that the President is a Kenyan, a Muslim, that Gays have the power to stop heterosexuals in their track from marrying and can with the swish of a wrist destroy the Institution of Marriage, Planned Parenthood does nothing but prefer, perform and protect abortions, poor people are poor because they are lazy, asking for a fair wage and cost of living is the reason for recession, and anyone who does not know the Jesus as described by Robertson, Falwell and Beck are disciples of the Devil.

It seems that words flow freely in America 2010. no need for fact, no need for truth, no need for reason. It seems that very few consequences arise or will arise if you speak from bias, bigotry or bogus. It seems that in America starting in 2010 to hurt is helpful, to defame is desirerous, and to lie a luxurious lifestyle reaping riches and rewards.

Words once said can cause infection and lead to a long drawn out death, according to my mother. I wonder how she would tolerate the words spewed by Republican/Baggers, never said from truth, and wonder how dismayed and distraught she would find her self.

And I wonder how my mother would even understand that we as Americans permit these words to be said and said and said?