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Encore Issues | PW | PC(USA) |
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The Power of WordsHealth Connectionsby Pat Gleich
Words have the power to hurt and exclude whether they are articulated intentionally, used unthinkingly or even thoughtlessly omitted. The choices that we make regarding words (and their connotations) can express insensitivity to people who do not meet our expectation or unconscious standard of what is normal. Our language may reflect bias from stereotypes, lack of information or a dearth of personal interaction with people whom we perceive as different. For all the damage that biased words can create, well-chosen words have the power to welcome, validate and nurture. As we witness to God’s promise of health and wholeness for all, we are challenged to make all people feel welcome in our communities and churches. Breaching the divide between “us” and “them” even can make the transitions almost all of us experience in the course of our lives—from self-reliant to less independent—easier and more acceptable as a phase of life. Pat Gleich is the associate for National Health Ministries. Get tips on speaking sensitively about people with disabilities, health conditions and illnesses in the January/February 2005 issue of Horizons. Call 800/524-2612 |
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