The article reflects on the profound impact of words, particularly in the context of genocide and displacement. The author, a refugee from Bosnia, expresses frustration with the meaningless rhetoric surrounding the genocide in Gaza, drawing parallels to their own experience where language lost its significance. The narrative emphasizes the power of the right words to spur action and the connections that can be forged through shared experiences of exile. It also pays tribute to a significant teacher whose influence inspired the author to pursue teaching and rediscover the weight of language.
I started writing to make words mean again. When I fled as a refugee from Bosnia to Sweden, words stopped working, and I felt lost.
The industry of denial wanted to prevent us from calling a spade a spade. The right words can lead to action, unlike empty phrases surrounding genocide.
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