Words as Weapons
Words are scary weapons. They can cause immense damage to a person, which can even harm others over time. I feel like some of the biggest issues we deal with today are due to words. A clear example of this is bullying. Obviously this doesn’t relate to all cases, but when I think of bullying, I instantly picture name-calling and threats being pointed at someone. These words by themself may not cause physical scars, but they can leave even deeper scars mentally. These deeper scars leave a lasting impact, not only on the victim, but others around them. I heard that the majority of people who are involved in a school shooting are usually students who were bullied. These people had no friends; they didn’t have anyone to depend on in times of need. Victims of bullying often resort to an equally terrifying method: suicide. Words are so easily spoken, yet they can never be taken back. It’s crazy to me how we don’t consider how much power we hold by having the ability to choose what we say to each other. We can start wars and kill others with our words alone.
The one saving point that we deserve to choose our words is the hope that they can bring as well. I write letters to my sisters on their birthday because I acknowledge that I can’t physically say to them how much they mean to me. Words are really hard to convey in person. My sisters tell me that they often cry or feel emotional when they read my letters, which they don’t usually do. I love that gratifying feeling of being able to bring joy and inspiration through my words. Even more so, I love the fact that there are so many others in the world who do the same.
Comments
Thanks for bringing this one up! I absolutely agree with you—words have immense power and they can be abused as easily as they are utilized with good intentions. That’s why it may be important to consider thinking before speaking. Thankfully, I have yet to encounter someone spitting fire at me, but there have been things people have said to me that I still think about sometimes.
-Angel Susantin
I agree that words can be used as weapons. I also agree that words can be used to heal, just like your thoughtful letters. I'm sure that your sisters are grateful that they received such letters. It's harder for people to see invisible scars, which might be a reason why some people might not know when they go too far and cause these scars. When we use our words, we have to remember that we can't take them back and that their impacts may differ from their intention.
I agree with your opinion that words can hurt people and can't be taken back. It reminds me of the internet because once you say something, it always leaves a trace or if you did delete them, it was for the public and can still be seen in archive websites. I also think it is really sweet that you give meaningful letters to your sisters because it show effort as to how you want them to know how you feel.
Sincerely,
Mrinmayee
Your blog post really made me wonder if we do deserve to use words to speak to others. There are honestly so many negative aspects of words, such as the harm it brings through bullying or other forms of slander. I’ve heard so many stories of students from Korea or China taking their lives because of the pressuring words from their parents, teachers, and even peers. It’s a sad reality where people find death as an escape route from the words that are continuously used as a weapon against them. At the same time, I believe there are still people who use their words to uplift and encourage others!
Sincerely,
Faith Tong
Words are like the poles on the Earth, they can go real far towards the direction of North or they be at the equator. None the less words have a broad spectrum of emotions that they can be expressed. Sometimes comforting words can be soft as a feather other times harsh/ targeting words can be as sharp as a blade. I really like how to take the consideration into writing your sisters letters for their birthday, really such a nice thing to do. Sometimes being verbal to express your gratitude to them is the way to go!
I really liked how you included bullying in your blog, because it is a serious manner. Not everyone realizes how much damage it could do to a person, its so awful. I used to be bullied in elematry school for having an excessive amount of body hair. It really hurt me, all the mean comments and the awful name-callings harmed me, mentally. But my favorite part of your blog was “I write letters to my sisters on their birthday because I acknowledge that I can’t physically say to them how much they mean to me.” This is so pure and so sweet, and I love how kind you are when expressing your feeling so well on paper and also to me in class:).