Words are powerful and can create many a response better or worse, but it’s good to have an opinion. Words in our English language are exciting and paint a picture with the added beauty of America’s melting pot of cultures and languages. Yet, English is the language of America and immigrants learn it and other countries teach it. The English language needs to be the official and only language written and spoken in America.

Manners also are a nice use of words and set boundaries. “Please,“ and “thank you” set standards as opposed to swearing, or interrupting another‘s words. The idea that someone has a different opinion is okay. It’s good to have an opinion, no matter which side, and the debate needs to be directed at the issue, not the individual. Yes, perhaps a lackluster leader might not be an "idiot," "failure" or "liar", just an individual incapable of understanding “capitalism” as opposed to “socialism.”

Having an opinion, rather than being “undecided” is significant. When people are “undecided” they give away their being and more than just words. I heard a woman ask a friend this past presidential election, “Who are you voting for?” By the question, it seemed clear that the response from her friend became her vote. In one city, voters actually take a list of all of the candidates who are Democrat and vote the straight Democrat ticket. The words “Democrat” and “Republican” carry huge ramifications. Right now, America is experiencing what the words of this Democrat president are doing to the American Dream.

When a spouse comes home and says he’s lost his job, those words have immense impact. Things happen with those words and other things don’t. The American Dream is being shattered by government and way too many political words. The executive branch “recommends, should provide leadership and should have a bunch of clear words and plans, and our legislative branch should make laws best for America. Their words and “yes,” or “no” vote impacts generations.　

Words can shatter lives just as much as a baseball bat hitting a ball to outfield. A child who hears his parents call him “stupid”, or a couple spewing “I hate you” might as well be clumped with that bat as, except for the bruises, it hurts just the same.

Other words, in the end, do hurt like the crack of a bat. The words “cancer” or “Alzheimer“ creates great despair, while words like cure“ and “recovery” create hope. The warm wishes of “Happy birthday” or “Merry Christmas” leave a good feeling, but these words also have impact. A city sign reading “God Bless” can get a whole town buzzing. Or mean words spray painted on a school wall might reveal more about that community than that cheap can of  paint. Perhaps more police are needed to fight “the druggies,“ or better parenting needs to happen, or fewer “baby daddies.”　

Words tattooed on movie stars' arms “Joe loves Jane” sure can cause problems and a lot of laser erasing when Joe or Jane don’t. Bumper stickers glued on vehicles make a statement, and let others know how politically active, environmentally friendly, school positive or vacation happy that driver may be.

Words are fun and worth clearly stating, in English if in America, and with an opinion that is yours because it’s good to have an opinion.

For more of my opinions, please visit:  www.Theprickleypear.com