Are our words ever pointless?

I’ll admit I occasionally look at Twitter while I am at work.  And sometimes (just sometimes), I like to click links and read articles or see the photos of the “top 10 best and worst” of (fill in the blank).  While this is clearly not the best use of my time, I never let it get in the way of what I need to get done on any given day.

Today, I happened to click on a link for the “World’s Most Pointless Protest Signs.”  While I agree with the majority of the list (in photo form), I am not completely sold. For starters, I do not have the benefit of the context in which these signs are displayed. The sign that reads, “PEOPLE HATE YOU” could be a very concise response to our “friends” at the Westboro Baptist Church who are convinced that “God hates you” (or their more famous trademark, “God hates fags”).  And, while I cannot justify hate, the “PEOPLE HATE YOU” sign seems justified (though not necessarily appropriate) response to the WBC.

On this particular list, though, there is a photo of a priest holding a sign that states, “On behalf of Christians, sorry for the big, angry signs.”  In the background, there is a man holding another sign that states, “Sorry for not listening.”

I can venture to guess the type of event where these signs were held, but I am not sure that is important to know. The gesture is significant and, from my standpoint, very valid. As much as I hate the reality that we, as humans, sometimes have to resort to boldly written words (instead of simply having a conversation), the truth is that the written word can start a much needed conversation.

I saw another sign in September after the attacks on the American Embassies overseas. It stated, “Sorry People of America this not the Behavior of our Islam and [Prophet].” It was a simple statement after a horrible event. But it was a statement that brought a human face to people that, unfortunately, were (and are) too easily demonized.

My message for today is essentially that it sometimes takes several forms of communication for the appropriate truth to both be communicated and heard. When religion or beliefs are involved, it is all the more necessary to be cognizant of both aspects.

And, sometimes, when I want to bring a new depth of consideration to the words I choose, I just ask myself, “Would I want to hold this on a sign for the entire world to see?” I would hate for my words to be put on a twitter list for “most pointless” anything.