There is a silence permeating every fabric of society today. It is speaking louder than anything I have ever heard.
This silence is increasing with each passing day as people refuse to speak up, when subjected to anger and animus. The volume of those espousing their perspective is growing louder and louder with no end in sight.
Even so, people seem willing to take it without retort. The lack of a response and apparent acceptance is deafening.
This is the “sound of silence” and it is increasing with each passing day.
It can be heard as people refuse to speak up and out against issues and mandates they do not agree with or believe in. It is seen in the workplace, the church and in the free market.
There is a defeatist mindset that goes along with the “sound of silence”, as people refuse to defend their positions or, at the very least express their point of view.
The fascinating part is, refusing to speak up only increases the volume of both the voices and the silence. The irony is the longer people stay silent, the angrier those who are shouting become. It is as if the aggressors are not content with the lack of aggression they receive in return.
This is nothing new. In fact, it has always been this way. When facing a bully, backing down never appeases them. It only increases their hostility. It is when we stand up and resist, we find the greatest chance of ending the bullying. You see, being willing to stand up for one’s self will always garner us more respect than passivity does.
Today, silence is the result of being unwilling to share a belief, view, or an opinion for fear of being chastised or ridiculed. This is taking place because people do not believe their opinions are worth the price, they may have to pay to express them. Sadly, many, refuse to pay the price required for speaking the truth.
There is certainly a time when we are better off saying nothing. Wisdom itself is found in listening before we speak. But there is also a time when we must break the silence by speaking up.
There are some who believe the time is approaching when people will be heard.
Unfortunately, I do not believe as some attest, the silent majority is about to speak. In fact, history tells us, the majority almost always stays silent until it is too late.
I do not know where we go from here, but there is one thing that is certain. If we do not find our voices soon, we will all be overwhelmed by “the sound of silence.”
Ecclesiastes 9:17, “The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools”.
