I had a 7th grade English teacher who was a favorite of everyone – well, most everyone. In addition to delivering some pretty solid teaching, she liked to have fun with the kids. One day she brought caramels (those individually wrapped Kraft caramel squares) to class so we could all enjoy one or two. One of the boys in the class had gotten braces the day before and it was her joke on him. In those days, most people enjoyed jokes, even if they were on them. He thought it was funny, she thought it was funny, we all laughed.

Sometimes people talk to the elderly like they’re small children. I suppose they get used to it, considering it’s probably a well-meaning effort to be kind. I hope no one ever talks to me that way.

People who are abusive can be downright mean in their comments. But they can also be silky smooth and convincing. It depends on what type of abuser they are.

In a war, opposing sides are not likely to be polite to each other. Each side is defending something or someone. Are demoralizing comments appropriate? What about name-calling? What about harsh answers that don’t turn away wrath? Is war a time to point out bad things about the opponent?

Most of us favor easy-listening speech. We cringe a bit at words that we don’t typically use, ourselves, although I’ve noticed that human nature sometimes prefers to ignore or even agree with ad hominem attacks rather than discussing the matter of argument. We’d rather repeat that attack than actually argue a valid point. Some people are suggesting yesterday’s assassination attempt could be the fault of the one who offends some folks with some pretty tough words. I thought of some crusty prophets who offended kings and I thought of Jesus who garnered the hate of plenty of people. Still does.

But it’s our responsibility to examine what situation someone’s words are used in. I don’t suppose a dentist has a bowl of caramels in the waiting room. And if you don’t understand that our nation (and world) is and has been in a war for a long time, a war to save a whole lot of people who are sold and sacrificed, a war to defend our nation’s freedoms, and a war of influence in which some folks are doing whatever they can to keep things from going kinetic, you might criticize words and phrases used more in war than, for instance, typical political speech. You would be wrong.