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"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." - Ephesians 4:29 The last few days have been emotionally exhausting for America. First there was the Don Imus fiasco, which surfaced deep-rooted pain, suspicion, and anger over racial divisions in America. Then, this week, there was the horror of the Virginia Tech shootings, which forced us to confront the reality of evil, and our fear of mortality. Later, the Supreme Court ruled that partial birth abortion, a grisly procedure that must have been conceived by the producers of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, could be banned by law. While these three stories might seem disparate and disconnected, each involves the debasement of human dignity. It's clear how mass murder and infanticide strike at the heart of human dignity, but it's easy to underestimate the destructive impact of mere words. ~Snip~
We do well to ask ourselves what kind of culture we want to live in. The words used on radio and television shape the culture, and even people who choose not to consume degrading entertainment must live in a culture that is heavily influenced by it. Dehumanizing words lead to dehumanizing actions, which in turn can lead to suffering and sorrow. Remember Terry Schiavo? She was declared a "vegetable", and when the label stuck, it became acceptable to starve and dehydrate her to death. Sticks and stones can break our bones, but words can create wounds that are even more severe. After these difficult weeks, let us dedicate ourselves to a cultural vision that celebrates human dignity and worth. Ken Connor is Chairman of the Center for a Just Society in Washington, DC and a nationally recognized trial lawyer who represented Governor Jeb Bush in the Terri Schiavo case.
Human Dignity and the Imus Culture
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