Words

Words matter. Context matters. Recently a group of white militia/ Nazis loaded themselves into U-Hauls and marched around the capital complex in DC. One report described them carrying riot shields shouting slogans and attempting to intimidate. Another report described the same group of misguided men carrying plastic shields and running away from hecklers. The first used menacing language . The second chose to describe the three hour wait in the dark the wannabe terrorists had waiting for a ride home. (They forgot the five P’s: Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. )

Riot shields infer organized men anticipating and perhaps hoping for violence. Plastic shields make you think of children playing dress up. The first instills fear, the latter mockery.

Words matter.

I always look for qualifiers when I read the news. Could. Might. Perhaps. Projected. Believed to be. Qualifiers are hedges on the truth when reporting. This might be true. then again I might just be making this all up. My grandpa always said :” Don’t believe anything you read and only half of what you see” Of course he passed away long before we had realistic CGI. Now I would amend that to include most of what you see. In other words, look at actions, not propaganda.

Look for context. Pay attention to the verbiage used. Be aware rumor is reported as truth and truth refuted as lies. Look at who is saying what, then figure out why they are saying it. Are they instilling division, or trying to save lives? Are they instilling fear or hope. Do you have to check your brain at the door to agree with what is reported?

Words matter.

Actions matter more.