Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington is apparently about to be fired from the series for mouthing off the F word to co-star T R Knight, and then again repeating the same word at the press conference of the Golden Globes this month, where GA won Best Drama Series.When I read that, my first response was, it must be a slow news month.
I'm not a believer of power of words. They only have power if you give them, i.e. attach meaning to them.Don't get me wrong, I do get inspired by powerful speeches. For example, everytime I hear I have a dream by MLK, I get goosebumps (if you don't I'd suggest you follow the link and watch the video again). Or take Greed is Good, by Michael Douglas in Wall St., or Tilda Swinton's speech on love in The Deep End. Or George W. Bush's support speech for the constitutional amendment to redefine marriage filled me with immense despair.
But I wonder why a six letter word has so many people worked up so much. Haters will hate, it's in their nature. If we restrict their speech, we will never see the bigotry of their character. And if we allow them to hurt us, they will.
The best response should have been to laugh it off. He's an idiot among many. But to give him importance and power would mean that the next time someone somewhere utters the word again, we make them special too. We give them importance. And we surrender our powers to defend us.
Instead try saying this: I am a powerful human being. I am important, and there's a purpose behind my existence in this planet. Regardless of what people call me, how people see me, and what they want to do to me, I own who I am, how I feel, and what happens to me. No one has the ability to hurt me, unless I allow them to.
And idiots like Isaiah Washington could go on and hate everyone for all I care.
