LANGUAGE OF CONFLICT
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Consulting
    • Testimonials
  • About
  • Contact
    • Sarah Federman
    • Finish and Flourish
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Consulting
    • Testimonials
  • About
  • Contact
    • Sarah Federman
    • Finish and Flourish

Why Samantha Power hates "Tragedy"

2/9/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Samantha Power, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, will not let anyone in her office use the word "tragedy" or the phrase "tragic events."

Her reasoning is really salient for this blog on the Language of Conflict. Why has Ambassador Power banned the word? She says that it suggests we have no agency over what happened. 

We say, "Oh, what happened is so terrible. It's a tragedy." We release a sympathetic sigh, shake our head, and then continue munching our salad.

We believe we cannot do anything about tragedies...we are as powerless as Oedipus  was not to kill his father and sleep with his mother...as powerless as Romeo & Juliet were to interrupt their fate. Oh the whole situation was "star crossed."

If the event is described versus labelled we may be able to see more opportunities to influence -- if not what happened -- at least what happens next.

For example saying, "It's such tragedy what's happening in Syria" is quite different than saying "there are millions of displaced people unable to return home because there is a war in Syria that no one has gone in and interrupted."

As you move about today and this week, pay attention to the use of the word tragedy...

How do you feel when you hear it?

Do you feel a safe distance away?

Who do you think may benefit from us using this word?


Who is protected from your engagement?

What is the cost?

I like Power's position on the word. Tragedy's belong on the stage and in novels.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Afghanistan
    Bullying
    Communism
    Computer Crash
    Conflict Resolution
    Customer Service
    Documentary
    Foreign Policy
    Global Solutions
    Healing
    Indonesia
    Language
    Language Of Conflict
    Life Coaching
    Military History
    Narrative
    Police Brutality
    Political Debate
    Relationships
    Transparency
    World Healling

    Archives

    April 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012

Proudly powered by Weebly
✕