Incendiary Words
Words have such power - negative and positive - especially in our instant, interactive, interconnected digital society, where words can travel like wildfire all over the world in an instant. Imus, who uttered "nappy headed ho's" knows. Jesse "Hymietown" Jackson knows, too. As do many others who have stumbled into the thicket of incendiary words, many of course without malice, forethought, or any real racism. Unlike some words that are so emotionally hot you can only refer to their first letter, some are not as obviously hot. Words like "boy" and "chick" and "sweetie" and "gyp" and "jew (as a verb)" and "illegal," which are cool on the tongue but blaze up right after. While we shouldn't be so paranoid by language that we are afraid to speak openly, we all can all try to be mindful and thoughtful with our words so that they'll be more soothing than sizzling to those who hear them.
Respect
R-E-S-P-E-C-T! We all want it and are offended when we don't get it. But what is it? In its simplest terms, respect means to regard another or oneself. To take into consideration another or oneself. Respect, therefore, begins in the mind. One must actively think about the target of respect. For example, I knew my mother loved a tidy house, while I could care less about neatness. Out of respect for her, I always made sure my room was neat. It required that I consider her feelings, and acted in accordance with those feelings - out of respect. Just so, we all can show respect to everyone we encounter because respect is shown. The first sign of respect is to listen. It's so easy! And as you listen, you will learn what it takes to respect a person you're dealing with. And of course, in the reverse, you must be respectable if you want to get some respect. So it makes sense that the comedian Rodney Dangerfield who loved to insult others, would always say, "I can't get no respect!"the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change." Are you courageous?
Sports Stereotypes
What do Tiger Woods, Steve Nash, Laila Ali, and Serena Williams have in common? They all shattered many long-held stereotypes about sports and race. Tiger obliterated the notion that a black man could not excel in golf, and has become perhaps the greatest golfers of all time. And though Steve Nash, a Canadian who grew up playing soccer, is white, he sure can jump, having led the National Basketball Association in assists for many years, and earned the league MVP title twice, in a field of tall black men. Laila, Ali's daughter, has shown she can be beautiful, graceful, and still throw one helluva knockout punch. Both Serena and Venus Williams smashed the notion that inner city black children could not compete in the country club sport of tennis.
Influences
Who or what has influenced your life? Parents, siblings, colleagues, teachers, neighbors, singers, rappers, actors, politicians, business tycoons, authors, or just a wise old uncle, aunt, grandma or grandpa? We all need to dig deep to understand how our cultural influences have impacted the way we think, speak, or act in solitude and with others.
Cultural influences cause chain reactions: Our thoughts lead to actions, actions to habits, habits to character, character to who we ultimately become.
What or who has shaped the prism by which you view the world and all the different people that inhabit it? Are you able to see each person you encounter through unfiltered lens?
You may be missing something that could enrich your life.