Hi everyone,
I haven’t been really blogging in a while. I think I have been caught between two opinions as of late.There has been a lot on my mind, especially when it comes to politics, and social science. However, I digress… mainly because I don’t want to share everything that is in my mind to share. I have been thinking about the idea of privacy, and the right to privacy, and how that impacts the web. One of the issues on my mind is that whatever I blog on will be available as public knowledge, and may be used in the future to judge who I am, especially since there is a growing trend to jump to conclusions based on non-contextual rhetoric, and twisting the semantics of an individuals statements. Anyways, I am sure I will find some sort of common ground soon, so that I can blog happily and freely again.
One of the things that I want us to think about though is that we have a responsibility when we speak. Our words have power. The scriptures say,
“The tongue can bring death or life;Â those who love to talk will reap the consequences. (Proverbs 18:21)”.
Upon reading this, you may think that consequences are bad. However, ‘consequences’ is actually a neutral term. It refers to the resulting impact of something that you do, which in this case is talking. Those of us who wish to be heard, whether informally through a blog, or formally, through some platform or forum, such as political speech, journalistic expression, or ecclesiastical preaching, and the like, should understand the gravity and impact that our words can carry.
I have always believed that Freedom is never to be gained, and does not give us the freedom to restrict other’s freedom. Freedom must be mutual, and must be expressed in a way that does not inhibit the basic rights of another. Nonetheless, freedom is not without context, and not without boundaries. Some believe that freedom is not having boundaries, and in some cases, that is true, but the freedom to do something doesn’t automatically translate to its imminent implementation. Freedom and rights are always with respect to both the individual and his/her neighbor.
For example, we have the right to speak, but does that mean that we should say hurtful things to or about someone else? I personally feel that we have the responsibility, that accompanies our right, to speak in a way that fosters growth, change and agreement, and that does not deliberately hurt or belittle others.
However, I think I will stop here. Please think on what I have said. My thoughts are not completely expressed here, but I think that I have said enough to encourage you to think about the subject of speaking. Please share your comments.
God Bless,
Michael
