 |
| Image credit: Second Life Marketplace |
Words it seems have life.
Because their meanings or
implications fuel our imaginations and emotions, words can send relationships down
slippery slopes. Just look around us. Broken marriages. A divided nation. Because
of hurtful, stinging words.
As a bible-believing Christian and as someone who's built
her career on disciplines (broadcast,
advertising, public relations and marketing) requiring sound communication
strategies, may I offer my two-cents worth on the business of words — words and concepts being
the foundation of any sound communication:
1. Words are powerful because they come from the Creator
Himself.
Genesis 1 tells us how God spoke creation into being.
"Let there be light," were just the first of these words.
Jesus Himself is the Word. "In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the
beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3)
It's interesting how many businesses and products built
their successes on words or principles which marketing and advertising people refer to as business
strategies or unique selling propositions —
like Disneyland building itself to be "The Happiest Place on Earth", Nike
inspiring ordinary athletes to "Just Do It", or Apple following its "Think
Different" philosophy, be it in company culture or product design.
2. The higher the authority of the one speaking, the
weightier the words.
God used words and still uses the Word — the bible and Jesus per
se — to teach us how
to live; with millions of lives transformed by the truths they've
started to believe.
"The Filipinos are worth dying for," spoken by the
exiled Ninoy Aquino who challenged the Marcos dictatorship, has continued to
reverberate through several generations of patriotic Filipinos.
Martin Luther King, Jr., champion of Negro emancipation in
the 1960s, still inspires Americans today with "I Have a Dream".
In his 1961 inaugural speech, John F. Kennedy exhorted his
fellow Americans, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you
can do for your country."
How weighty indeed were Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf and his fiery
speeches which inspired an entire nation to say yes to the annihilation of the
Jews!
Which brings us to the last point…
3. Words spoken by those in authority or positions of power take
a life of their own.
Especially nowadays when information is quickly accessible
with just a push of your smart-phone app, politicians and celebrities' words get
uploaded or broadcast in real time —
without much chance to edit or window-dress their carelessly-uttered thoughts.
Words build up. They also destroy. So those in leadership
positions must be extra careful of their words and actions. Those on top of the
totem pole speak louder than anyone's words or actions.
My main point: As audiences and responsible citizens, how should
we respond to the words and behavior of our leaders especially when they
wantonly lie, curse, take pride of their shenanigans, or use their power for
their own ends?
"Pray for them," says the bible, even as we obey
the laws. They too are our duly-elected representatives, so they are
accountable to both God and the citizenry. They need to be warned if they
exceed their bounds, for they certainly face God's wrath.
"But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from
his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you
will have delivered your soul, Ezekiel 3:19.
God's Word is powerful. He does not lie. He is God and is in control.
We are Filipinos. We have a soul. Just giving up and allowing someone to abuse and divide us is a disservice to our nation and our God.
We are Filipinos. We have a soul. Just giving up and allowing someone to abuse and divide us is a disservice to our nation and our God.
