Let's Talk About...The Power of Words

Ok. You have probably heard the phrase, "The power of the written word." Somehow putting words on paper packs a punch.

The law clearly recognizes the impact of and the difference between the written word and the spoken word when they made "slander" (a spoken defamatory statement) and "libel" (a written defamatory statement) two distinct bad acts.

Libel has historically been treated as the more egregious of the two, and it is not hard to see why. Writing something down gives it a bit of permanence and power. Unlike the spoken word, the written word can be revisited frequently and re-wound the wounded or re-make heroes.

In other words, picking up a pen is a great responsibility.

I started writing for my junior high newspaper in seventh grade. It was called "Smoke Signals," because we were the "Braves." Boy, did I think that was clever! I learned a lot. Like if you publish the wrong time or classroom for the science fair, you are in a heap of trouble.

I went on to be the editor of my high school yearbook. The theme of the yearbook in my senior year was "Changes, Change Is..." which someone thought was a good idea since the school and the students were all going through a lot of changes at the time. Shocker. Doesn't that describe every year in high school?

Nonetheless, despite a weak theme, I learned the value of shaping our shared high school experience into an accurate, memorable time capsule that students might look at through the years. I imagine classmates now turning the yearbook pages one by one and recalling people and events they thought they had forgotten.

How do you shape an era? It is a big responsibility. Decisions must be made.

For example, do you print a flattering or not-so-flattering photo of the homecoming queen? Do you highlight the victories or defeats of the football team?

That is power.

The power of words, whether written or spoken, is tremendous.

Words can build self-esteem. "You are a godsend" makes you puff up a bit.

Words can damage relationships. Try writing, "I'm too busy to see you" to a friend and see what happens.

Words influence, heal, harm, and hurt. Especially when written.

Choose them carefully.

They shape our reality. They can be weapons. They can also be a balm.

No one can deny the power of the Bible for many people. On the other hand, think about how worthless the instructions are to put together your new BBQ grill.

If words have meaning and influence our lives, then imagine the power and resulting responsibility of journalism. Newspapers and magazines keep people informed, which, in turn, keeps our democracy strong. Is the reporting accurate, biased, or are they simply reckless?

Let me ask you this. How do you normally get your news? Is it through an algorithm? In other words, do you see all the news or only what is presented to you, based on your viewing history?

Newspapers, unlike Instagram or TikTok, present you with all the news it prints. Not just the 15% of "news" the internet thinks you want to see. And you get the added satisfying experience of turning the pages or scrolling through the whole paper, discovering new topics as you go. You just must choose a newspaper you trust.

Local newspapers are an even rarer breed, since local newspapers continue to close across the nation because, apparently, people prefer to see only 15% of the news.

Which brings me to what you are reading right now.

At the Left Hand Valley Courier, we embrace the changes in media and know that sometimes change is staying the course in the fierce winds of clickbait.

You live locally and we write locally. We might seem old-fashioned to some, but we are trustworthy and bring new life to an established medium.

We believe in the power of words and we use it to bring you unbiased information, pride, and an occasional smile. And we hope by reading every edition you learn something and feel connected to a pretty incredible community.

Support local journalism, the power of the written word, and the Left Hand Valley Courier by subscribing to and donating to our nonprofit, 501(c)(3) newspaper dedicated to bringing you the news and educating our community at lhvc.com. The Courier comes out weekly so if you only read the paper edition, you are missing 75% of what we offer.