Don’t pass along angry, incorrect messages

Words we use really do matter. They go across space and they fall on the serious and delirious, the connected and the unhinged alike.

Please, everyone, heed this warning by our former President Bill Clinton: Incendiary language can be taken the wrong way by some Americans. No law can replace personal responsibility. The more power and influence you have, the more responsibility you have. Ask yourself if it is kind, if it is true before passing on hearsay.

We can disagree on our politics, but one has only to read the paper every day to see how many people there are who are deeply troubled.

We do not need words demonizing government. Words can lead to violence. Angry anti-government rhetoric has led to increases in threats against the president and other elected officials.

Before you send that e-mail, know it to be the truth on taxes, Congress, the Senate, speaker of the House, immigration, etc. Research the messages you receive from the Internet on snopes.com, politico.com and factcheck.org before passing on those messages.

Remember these words, “Do no harm; do good; and stay in love with God.”

Jeanette Booth

Cedar Rapids