Reflection: "The Pen (or keyboard) ...

... is mightier than the sword" is a quote from Edward Bulwer-Lytton from his play Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy. The play includes the following lines given to Richelieu in Act II, scene II,:

True, This! —Beneath the rule of men entirely great, the pen is mightier than the sword. Behold the arch-enchanters wand! — itself a nothing! — But taking sorcery from the master-hand to paralyse the Cæsars, and to strike the loud earth breathless! — Take away the sword —States can be saved without it!

This is no better exhibited than in the recent happenings on the 4real board and members' blogs. We forget that the written word is a permanent landmark -- a stake in the ground where we state something and we can't erase it, no matter how hard we try to delete or re-state.

I was a print journalism major in undergrad. This means that I studied all about writing and publishing and editing. Yet, nowhere in my 4 years of undergraduate work, nor in my subsequent experience as a free-lance writer, published author or blog poster, was it EVER brought home to me how the printed word can destroy a person's character, slam a person's reputation or sway a group of people toward one faction or another.

I'm very well-educated and extremely well book-read. I have a graduate degree, have climbed the corporate ladder and spoken before various groups of folks. Yet, nowhere in this practical education did I ever realize the strength or permanency of ANY written word.

The adage among lawyers -- "NEVER put anything in writing" -- is as true today as when it was originally mentioned (probably two thousand years ago -- Pontius Pilate probably will forever regret the scriptures and their quotes of him!).

Words can crush a person -- or build them up; and tomorrow you can change your side. But if those same words are put in print -- it is permanent. Newspapers, magazines and book publishers have known this reality since Gutenberg -- that's why you pay more for the print version than the broadcasted news!

Sometimes the written word scares me. The written word can seal someone's execution or guarantee someone's pardon. And it is set. You can't take back the written word -- like you can a conversation between folks or even a public speech.

The 4real Catholic homeschool community -- of which I am a very active member -- is being torn apart by the written word.

And my prayer tonight is that I remember, from here on out, that the written word is not a tool to be taken lightly, to be used flippantly, to be casually tossed about. The written word is a sword than can pierce .... because I have seen the blood.