The weaponising of words

It is a good thing that the green benches in the House of Commons are spaced exactly two sword lengths apart! This was done deliberately to prevent duelling 'gentlemen' from doing any actual harm to one another. This week, however, there have been shocking scenes of angry confrontation. Words and terminology have been drawn from their scabbards in verbal combat such as has not been seen in decades. And both sides of the Brexit debate seem determined to use such words to curry favour with the electorate. On one side harsh and inflammatory terms are being bandied about to portray the opposition MP's in the worst light possible. On the other, plaintiff cries of outrage appear occasionally to be part of an effort to convince the populace that their opponents are 'unfit to govern'. What a sad indictment of our democracy that the so-called 'mother of parliaments' has come down to this.

It does not reflect a limited vocabulary on the part of the speaker - quite the opposite in the case of Britain's present Prime Minister. But it does reveal that both sides need to draw back and reconsider their weaponising of language, before someone does really get hurt.

I would like to let some light in onto this shady use of language. Consider this biblical advice:
'A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.' (Proverbs 16:23-24)

And to leaders in particular: '...excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love' (2 Cor. 8:7) and 'set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.'(1 Tim 4:12). And 'your words [should be] solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.' (Titus 2:8 The Message).

In every situation of conflict and misunderstanding the practical advice of the scriptures speaks clearly to us all:  'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.' (Proverbs 15:1)