>>Either we are allowed to try and assuage hurt or our top priority is standing tough and being quiet Lest We Offend.
The minefield was laid down for men way back when “Men Are From mars. Women Are From Venus” came out and men were told that good communication is only possible when we suppress everything we stand for and communicate as women. Then, the gays joined in (vs the heterosexuals), the blacks (vs the whites, and then it became super-sensitive with White Priv and the newer, more restrictive, Unconscious Bias). A Christian can’t have a difficult conversation with a non-Christian.
The new commandment is what you said, “Lest We Offend”. It is far better to just let people do what they want and if they try to do it you then you shoot them.
It’s very sad, isn’t it? It’s like twisting logic into Möbius strips, seeing Bill Clinton saying he’s always been a supporter of the #MeToo movement.
Instead of “Lest We Offend” being our highest social goal, it should be Honest Compassion. And that means people might use the wrong words, but they are trying to communicate that they care.