Sometimes all you need to do is listen

"Just words can't hurt." "Just words can't heal." "Just words can't shut people up." Oh, yes they can. Ask Tracy Chapman. In 1988 she hurt bigots, healed lovesick people and shut up 60,000 people at Wembley. With 'just words'. 

Just listen to the amazing - just 24 years young at the time - Tracey Chapman singing the song that would become a huge hit and inspiration. Here's Fast Car:

The people using words like groomer, woke, pedo, left, socialist, fascist, communist, antisemite... should be locked up in their bedroom at their mommy's place and only allowed out for lemonade and a cookie if they get the meaning right. 

Here's something I wrote in reply to a young man who looks up to people like Andrew Tate:

You can be a writer someday. When you're a grown man, treat women with the same respect you give your grandma. No, you don't want to quit these lessons. You're different but that makes you special. 

We may not always realize, but words that teachers, coaches, parents say to children - even if spoken in the most off handed way - have a tendency to resonate. Choose them well. 

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

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