Words matter, and have the power to persuade

To claim a person's rhetoric doesn't affect other people's actions defies common sense. Words have power. Words inform with truth, or lie and mislead people. They can encourage or discourage, build up or tear down, heal or destroy. They can cause division by turning people against each other. Words can persuade and motivate. If words didn't have power to affect the actions of others the advertising industry would go belly-up.

The president may be unwilling to take responsibility for the results of his words now, but one day he will, along with the rest of us. Jesus said in Matthew 12:36-37, 'Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” He also said in verse 33 that a tree is known by its fruit. Our words reveal our character, no matter who we are.

Margaret Bartlett

Cedar Rapids