The Power of Words

Being a writer, do I recognize the power of the written word more so than others? Maybe? Perhaps most non-writing people don't give the letters arranged on a paper much thought. The reading public aside, for they live for words. (and I live to write for them)
However....
It has come to my attention that in this political climate of bipartisanship, words have become so much more important, we simply can't brush it off and say, 'Bygones'.
For the average person, spouting opinions is almost meaningless. For example; how much power does our hairdresser truly have as they are cutting our hair. We nod, we smile, we agree or disagree...no harm no foul.
Step up a notch.
A teacher's words? Maybe that has a little bit more power. We trust teachers to give children education, fair and equitable learning and hopefully no opinionated self-promoting ideas, or extremist thinking.
So what's another step up in power in words?
Our celebrities? Our sports heroes? Yes. Popularity, and status will make words even more powerful. Fans of these personas will listen, possibly become influenced to make decisions. Who can predict who will fall prey and who will ignore the opinion of a celebrity?
Let's up it a notch.
What about people of politics who have an enormous following of believers? How about religious leaders who spout extreme views?
How powerful are their words? Should they think carefully before they say things lightly? Things that people who idolize them believe in their ideology as gospel? Can we hold the power of words accountable for actions of people who look to those leaders for guidance?

Ah, here's the question to reckon with. Yes or no? Personally I don't compare politicians with strong followings of extremists with let's say, the effect of video games on childhood shootings. I think most people would agree that the games may help dehumanize humans, and push a slightly off child to do things they may not do, but a leader?
Do we blame Osama bin Laden when he asks his followers to kill for his cause? I think we do. I think most of us hold him accountable. He is on the USA's most wanted list.
Do we hold our president accountable for his comments? Yes- to the point where the man can't talk because he is criticized with each breath he takes.
How about this latest crisis? Killing people in Arizona. Six dead. More than a dozen wounded.
And the target? Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. According to dozens of articles I have read a certain 'Alaskan' politician, had this woman on her hit list- A HIT LIST- which virtually said to lock and load.
Should we hold people with political clout responsible for inciting people who have a tendency to kill with that push? Maybe. Maybe not.
But if our president had a 'hit list' and someone was targeted, I wonder who the media would blame then?
I know opening this can of worms is going to become my own 'criticize GA Hauser' field day for hot political debate. I have strong feelings about gay rights...duh? Read any Hauser books lately? Yet I also believe in Capitalism, the death penalty...the environment...animal rights...good lord! A cop friend told me one day I would explode because I had both extreme left and right opinions and some day I would spontaneously combust. That would be something to see.
I was nicknamed 'enviro-cop' because when someone at Greenlake was shooting Canada geese, yes, I would volunteer for the call. I arrested someone for killing a sparrow with a beebee gun for animal cruelty. A felony. My fellow cops thought I had lost my mind.

But...my opinions on politics, gay rights, love, hate, sex...they are my own. I hold the influence of a gnat over the general public who wouldn't know my name if you shoved all of my 60 plus books into their faces.
If I was powerful. If I had the following of millions, should I be responsible for my words then? Yes! Should I put out a hit list of all the people I disagree with? Tempting...yes! But I am not a fanatic who thinks people who do not share my opinion need to become targets to kill. Whether this Alaskan politician thought she was being clever, cute, or a funny bunny, she does influence people. And you want to find an extremist on the edge waiting for that push? They are on every block, every corner.
Ask bin Laden if his words are meant to incite hate, murder, mayhem. Nah, he's just a sweet old man with a beard. His words don't really mean anything. He can't be held responsible if someone actually blows themselves up and kills a few others with them. Hey, those bombers obviously would have done it anyway.
The words didn't mean a thing.

Get a clue. Words are everything. They can make you cry. They can make you laugh. They tell you what to do when they are spoken from authority in a command. Believe me, when I was in uniform and told you to get out of the car and show me your hands, you did it. My words were very powerful because of who I was. A little cop with a big gun.

In this age of horrible politics and hatred of opposing ideas, words can kill. And people in power need to act responsibly and understand, yes, there are dull minds out there who are looking for a reason to murder. Our leaders and people who wish they had the brains to lead, should know better.

I don't usually write anything this political, guys, but some individuals in our country are so out there in what they say and do, this writer couldn't stop her fingers from working the keyboard.

Words. POWERFUL. Never underestimate how words influence actions. And never! pretend people who make out 'hit lists' propose H8...or cry foul when someone else wins fairly in an election, are just sweet little harmless housewives from Alaska. They are very dangerous individuals indeed.

Please....be careful out there, and mind your words. Spout kindness. Talk civil equality. And most of all...don't protect the very people who are supporting unstable extremists of any kind.