It’s funny that I would say that words matter, given that my first language is color, but I am forced to make words out of the colors and patterns that flow through my brain if I want to communicate. I can’t say to you that I read an article in the local paper that made me feel all dull brown with big gray and black smudges. Well I could, but would you understand that it really made me feel uneasy and sad?
The article was about the troubling use of words on the website of a business in the southern Hilltowns. On the surface, they presented a very cautious and practical description of the COVID-19 precautions that were required of customers in their store. (Masks and social distancing. ) What was troubling about the post was that they continually referred to COVID-19 as “the China coronavirus.“ Not just once, but four times.
That is not kind. The US owns the pandemic within its borders. A strong response could have curtailed it, but we had a weak, do-nothing response. It’s the US coronavirus now.
Divisive language does nothing to help anyone. You see, language does matter. When people use an ethnic slur or say something that makes part of the population into the “other” they are opening a path to habituation, and that allows for subtle and continuous escalation of dehumanizing part of the population. Verbal unkindness takes root and keeps growing. After a while hateful words have become so common that people stop viewing the target as a person like themselves, and that opens up the possibility for more than words to be thrown at people. That’s when the rock start going through windows. That’s when the rocks start going at people. Don’t think that words are weak or harmless.
Here at the Jolly Bungalow I try to be as respectful as possible in my speech. It’s not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of good manners and considerate behavior.
What am I going to do about that shop? For one thing, name names. It is the Huntington Country Store. They have not apologized for being insensitive, and have doubled down, ranting against Chinese Communism and for freedom of speech. OK, it’s their right to have opinions. And it’s my right to realize that the shop is owned by people I don’t agree with or particularly want to spend money with. They made a choice to be mean-spirited rather than apologetic, and they can face the consequences. Under capitalism, my dollar is a vote and I do not vote for them. Speech can be free but it still has consequences.
We have many Chinese-Americans living in this country and they are not “other.” They are us. China is the most populous country the world. Do you know it’s history? Have you studied Chinese art or poetry? Looked at the beauty of traditional calligraphy? And don’t dismiss Communism as inherently bad. All systems have their strengths and weaknesses. We were sold a lot of propaganda during the Cold War and it still colors some people’s views. Be objective. How’s capitalism working for you right now? Not very well for most ordinary people. Racism and capitalism are a two-headed monster, since capitalism needs a weakened underclass to feed upon. Don’t fall or it.
It is never a sign weakness to use kind language. It shows you to be a leader rather than a bully. I am lucky that I can use the grandma test to see how I am doing in kind speech. If I wouldn’t dared to have said it in front of Gran, I probably should not say it now.
Tales from the jolly bungalow 