On Language

Words have impact. Words can disseminate misinformation and hate or words can spread love, unity and togetherness. Words matter. Daniella Lurion from Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center joined us on January 16 to speak about the power of words, especially in an ever-increasingly digital world.

Daniella demonstrated the power of words by recalling a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. She and her group met a Holocaust survivor who spoke about how his parting words to his mother just before they were separated at a concentration camp haunted him. She had urged him to leave her side and follow the group meant for those selected for labour instead of the group destined for the gas chambers. Decades later, he is still filled with sorrow that his last words to his mother were spoken in anger though she surely knew he did not mean them. Words carry a profound impact, no matter the spirit in which they are said. 

Daniella laid out how the persecution of Jewish people in the 1930s began with words. Because there was no counter-narrative to Nazi propaganda, the hate directed at Jewish people became more normalized and accepted. Daniella pointed out that nowadays, antisemitic speech can spread quickly and have an immense reach due to social media. 

However, our actions through words and social media can also have a positive effect. Daniella urged the community to choose to spread goodness, love and kindness. In the Lunch N’ Learn after the assembly, Daniella also led a conversation with staff and students about what can be done to combat hate and recognize dog whistles for antisemitic language. In an effort to prevent burnout, Daniella also emphasized the importance of taking care of our mental well-being and of ceasing to engage directly with hateful content if we feel stretched thin. 

Greenwood is dedicated to continuing these conversations and community actions to combat hate and oppression. Our ongoing efforts for education and purposeful action will continue through many school-wide initiatives. Be sure to check out the Community Learning Calendar in Week @ Glance to see a snapshot of the learning taking place each month.