Mr. Edward Bulwer-Lytton said this in 1839 “The pen is mightier than the sword.” It is believed that he felt that the written word had more power than acts of violence. He was a playwright and an author, so he took words very seriously.
I can agree that some written works have hit me deeper than some words spoken to me every will. For instance the Bible, or books of poetry, effect me stronger than a spoken conversation with someone.
The media in the USA has proven this statement by Mr. Bulwer-Lytton to be true in a lot of ways. Our newspapers, blog posts, promotional flyers and many other non verbal communication can lean a nation left or right. I am not politically speaking here, just stating facts.
A person can be proven innocent or guilty by the words penned about them. A woman can be seen as less than a man due to the words penned about her. A person’s life could be judged based on what was written in their obituary.
Crazy that words have so much power huh? Well, let’s ponder on this. Words are formed in our minds, then we think on them, pull them from our hearts, and share them either by writing them or speaking them.
I remember once as a youth I wrote a letter confessing that I would commit suicide because of the stress of my life. I had been doing homework at the kitchen table and wrote the letter in middle of my notebook. Someone in my family looked at it. It created an issue! I did not use nice words. I used words full of pain and depression! I wrote about all that hurt me and sadly my family did not see it as a cry for HELP! They took my suicide note as a personal attack, why because of the WORDS WRITTEN THEREIN.
I cut my older cousin deep to the depths of her heart and soul by saying “I wish my family would leave me the *@#^! ALONE!” That one sentence blocked her from seeing the other three paragraphs that detailed how I would end my life. That one sentence “blinded” her to the truth of my despair and she did not consul me she attacked me.
As you may know I did not succeed in my suicide attempt but I have NOT given up using written word to get my feelings, thoughts, and ideas out of the abyss of emotional roller-coasters, inside of my heart, mind and soul. I am thankful for the opportunity to share my gift with the world.
May this “pen” of mine “stab” many to change their lives and those around them for the better!
Keierra Reenell
