[Vulnerability & Power - XXVII]
If belonging (to a diverse community of mutuals) is the bedrock of (true) power, then not belonging or "dis-belonging” might be considered the greatest form of dis-empowerment.
Inclusion, power. Exclusion, dis-empowering.
Communion, powerful. Exile, weakness.
Exclusion and exile are not born in extreme acts of injustice and evil, though they may end up there. Rather, they are first born in the subtle use of words, images, and stories. Separation begins when we remove nuance, context, and variability from our communication over time.
Words matter. They can separate. They can hurt. Labels are often flat, too narrow, and hurtful too. Unexamined, recycled stories often dis-empower.
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I deal at length with the relationship between language and power in my next book. Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter.
