This morning on Facebook my friend Rev. Micky Youngson posted a short and pithy poem by Brian Bilston on the danger of ill-chosen words, which I shared, then she followed it up with the following pertinent verse of scripture:
"Take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."
James 1:19
In the intervening period I had written the following piece that had been percolating in my mind over past days and weeks, with references to classical literature being dropped in to speeches to give them an educated gloss, and other crass statements being made by different people playing to their supporters with no regard for the ultimate effects of their words and policies. This doesn't just apply to the political leaders of the UK and US, but to all those who toss out cheap jibes and soundbites... And indeed memes on social media... We can all be guilty of it... Particularly when we are angry about one thing or another... And anger certainly doesn't seem to be in short supply at the moment, nor is likely to be in the wake of a no deal Brexit, no matter what else might be (including the drugs that keep me alive...)
Classical allusions
Providing cover for
unalloyed callousness.
Costly educations
Affording a wealthy
Vocabulary with
Which to sneer and mock.
An armoury of wit
Without warmth or wisdom,
Considered yet with no
Consideration as
To the price paid by
By others for their ill
Chosen words: sound bites
That stick in the mind with
Barbs that tear the flesh and
Spirit of those beyond
The well upholstered and
dark wood panelled halls of
Privilege and power,
Where allies cheer and jeer
And foes seek to score cheap
Points in a game where the
Losers are all of us.
Selah
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