HONORING WORDS

What is a word?  What is the word?  What is your word?

The dictionary gives multiple meanings. Honestly, the dictionary says:

Word is a noun:

“a speech sound or combination of sounds having meaning and used as a basic unit of language and human communication;

the written or printed symbol of one of these basic units of language”

The plural form means: things said.  For example, his words went unheeded.

The plural form without an article: as a dispute.  For example, they had words on the matter.

Information, a message: “word came that he was still alive”.

A promise, an assurance:  “he was as good as his word, you have my word for it”.

Promises of performance as opposed to actual performance (deed).

A command, an order:  “to give the word to attack”.

A password, watchword.

The text, as distinct from the music, of a song, opera, etc.

or the text spoken by an actor.

THE WORD (Christian theology): God incarnate in Jesus Christ; the Bible as the revelation of God; the gospel message.

A good word, a recommendation: “he said a good word on your behalf”.

A man (woman) of few words: a man (woman) apt to be silent rather than talkative.

A word in season: piece of well-timed advice

A word of advice: a piece of advice;

A word to the wise: admonishment offered to someone intelligent enough to act on it.

By word of mouth, orally rather than in writing.

His or her word is law; what he or she says is obeyed without argument.

In a (or one) word:  to sum up briefly.

In so many words: in a frank, blunt manner leaving no room for doubt.

In words of one syllable in simple, forthright language.

The last word: the final decision, the last thing said, especially in a dispute.

The most up-to-date model, example etc. For example:  the last word in sports cars.

To have a word with someone;

To have a short talk with someone, especially about some business matter;

To admonish someone mildly, he had a word with them about their continual lateness;

To put in a word (or a good word) for;

To use one’s influence in order to recommend someone or something;

To take someone at his word, to believe that someone means what he (she) says, especially when he makes some attractive offer;

To take someone’s word for it: to believe that what a person says is true without verifying it.

So if by definition, word has meaning, what happens when that meaning is twisted, perverted or changed?  As a unit of human communication it is logical that the meaning of a word stays as defined.  Why has the human race allowed cool to mean hot and hot to mean cool?   Why are there now many words used in human discourse which are abused?

What happens in a society when words become babble?  Are there examples in history of this happening?  What was the story about in the Bible referencing the TOWER OF BABEL?  Is that place of confusion the original meaning to babble?

Just think about the word “declare”.  The U.S. Constitution says that Congress SHALL DECLARE war.  It is the responsibility of Congress and not the President to “declare” war.  The definition in the dictionary for “declare” is:

1. “to make known formally or explicitly.”
2. “to state emphatically (affirm)”
3. “to  make a full statement”

And note, that a FULL statement would include when and where and how long and at what cost.  Full means comprehensive.  There was no declaration of the Vietnamese war.  There was no declaration of the Iraq war taking out Saddam Hussein.  America no longer follows or acts according to the Constitution.  And what about the word SHALL.  It does not say might, or can if it wants to.  It is a command that it is the Congress that makes the declaration and only then is it by definition a war of the United States of America.
Honoring words can be a life and death situation.  Honoring words is serious and not a “joke”.