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ON SILENCE
Our Silence Will Not Protect Us
Why it’s important to speak up while you can
“*For to survive in the mouth of this dragon we call america, we have had to learn this first and most vital lesson — that we were never meant to survive.” – Audre Lorde
When I was a child growing up, I would sometimes ask my mother why she didn’t say anything in moments when she was being insulted or verbally attacked. And she would inevitably reply ‘to keep the peace.’
I was reminded of her words while reading in The Golden Space of Silence.
Yes, there are definitely times when silence is the best action. Such as when angry words fly out of the mouth of a person inebriated or otherwise challenged. It rarely serves to get into the ring with someone with whom you cannot reason.
And there are other times to remain silent — like when words might endanger yourself or others. Those schooled in history may remember WW11 war time propaganda exhorting ‘Careless Talk Cost Lives’.
