Musings: BANNED
“I propose a worldwide ban on prolonged or indefinite solitary confinement.” Juan Mendez
Musings: BANNED?
People should: Go where they are not supposed to go, Say what they are not supposed to say, and Stay where they are told to leave. Howard Zinn
Why is Banned such a severe word? If we are honest enough about it, we all have things (hopefully things that create injustice and impinge on our freedoms) that we would like to see banned, censored, eradicated, removed from planet earth … and sent away to some dark, dank solitary place that no one can ever reach. But, at what cost to us? The downside of the term is that whether it is banning books, people/groups, beliefs, places, the solitary confined or just about anything else that produces a visceral reaction in some of us, it is often used as an extreme response to marginalize others. As Juan Mendez says in the quote above, indefinite solitary confinement of inmates or political prisoners is cruel and unjust. Banning or silencing people for their point of view is a miscarriage of justice. There are alternate ways to challenge those who don’t follow the “rules” but the punishment must fit the crime and banning is an extreme response to things that offend some.
There is no justification for acts of violence against others and banning free speech or freedom of choice is an act of violence too. Sure, banning toxic waste and dangerous things as a safety measure is one thing but, it rarely ends there. Globally, censorship is alive and well in the 21st century and it spills over into all areas of our lives. Creative censorship is often used to silence those whose point of view irk us. But why? Did deep because the problem is yours, not the one you censor! We live in a world where grey areas don’t exist for some, despots reign in some nations, and extremist beliefs and measures run rampant for others. Frankly, the only things that should be banned are actions that stand in the way of humane treatment of others, compassion, love, forgiveness and freedom.
Interestingly enough, the Discover Challenge (DC) for this week was on the word – flâneur – which is classically the observer/lounger/stroller who leisurely takes in all around him with a keen eye to cultural shifts. When I went looking for DC on Wednesday, it was nowhere to be found, as if banned from my view; I chose something else and moved on. Oddly, it popped up today out of thin air. As I researched the word, I found two articles on the subject. One article shared that even though the flâneur is a timeless figure, its role has become minimized by a worldview that values constant activity and motion. Lounging around is passe to some and … to others it has become the reserve of the idle and the rich, banished/banned to = the idle rich. Go figure.
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“All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness.” Tennessee Williams
Musings: BANNED?
Why does the word make us feel uncomfortable? We say NO to things all the time so why does this word carry such gravitas? Because Banned connotes extreme, irrevocable action. It is such a definitive word and, a harsher word than No. It is variously defined as: prohibit, forbid, bar, interdict, proclaim, curse, publicly condemn; and its origins go as far back as 1200-50 during the Middle English times. While on occasion, I have used it to express a desire to forbid someone from continuing a destructive behavior, it is a word that reverberates and carries a cruel edge to it.
That said, I believe that words carry enormous power and they are often used to maim and diminish others. When people hurl hurtful words at others and claim they are being direct/frank, they are simply being cruel. We must be measured in our usage of certain words. No, we don’t have to ban them, we just need to be judicious in the way we use them. I believe that moderation in everything leaves room for better communication, compassion and consideration. We can say No and not mean Never … but Banned? What say ye?
This post was inspired by a Daily Post Prompt: – BANNED – Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt. Not sure how to participate? Here are the steps to get started.
Positive Motivation Tip: Moderation in everything leaves room for compassion and consideration.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos: via Wikipedia, or Banned via Pixabay and/or my Personal Collection
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
