Words Carry Weight – Especially This One

To the Voices Rising on College Campuses and Beyond,

Let’s talk about a word. A big one. A word that’s powerful, painful, and historically rooted in devastation: genocide.

I never thought I’d be writing about this. I prefer to stick to topics with a little more light. But the times we’re in are anything but light, and this moment demands something more serious. Genocide is not just a buzzword or a chant—it’s a term that carries the weight of human suffering on a scale most of us can’t imagine. It’s a word that should never be used lightly.

When you say “genocide,” you’re not just making a political statement. You’re evoking mass violence, historic trauma, intent to destroy entire populations. You’re pointing to something so serious that it changes the way people see nations, leaders, and movements. That’s why it’s important to understand what you’re saying before you say it.

As an American, I believe deeply in the value of freedom of speech. I’ve written before that freedom of speech is sacred—but when that freedom is used to promote hate, spread misinformation, or provoke violence, we have a problem.

Right now, we’re seeing a lot of passion, a lot of voices, and a lot of pain. But some of that energy is being channeled into slogans and social posts that invoke words many people don’t fully understand. “Genocide” is not a word to wield loosely. If you care about justice, human rights, and truth—use your voice wisely.

So to those using that word on signs, in chants, or across social media: Pause. Think. Learn. Don’t just follow the loudest voice. Dive into history. Understand what genocide really means: the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying them. That is a horrifying concept. One that demands more than hashtags and headlines.

This moment in time is serious. We are facing real conflicts, real loss, and real battles. And yes, we need serious people—people who choose to be informed, thoughtful, and measured. People who respect the gravity of the words they speak.

One day, you’ll look back on this period of your life. Maybe you’ll have a family, a career, and responsibilities you can’t yet imagine. And when that day comes, you’ll have to face the choices you made, the words you used, and the causes you supported.

You still have a chance. My hope for you is that you will use it, ask hard questions,  seek real answers, and be proud of how you used your freedom.

Because words matter. And some words matter more than others.