WORDS – powerful tools to build a world
but also
extremely effective weapons to destroy and conquer.

In my world today, I hear
words being
REDEFINED
(given “new” meanings)

and I hear
sacred texts being
MISUSED / MISQUOTED
(taken out of context, distorted, misapplied)

An example:

“awaken” has been cast aside by many
and
“woke” has been put forth as an undefined judgement,
an insult no one seems able to give meaning to,
hurled at someone who expresses a differing opinion

The usage of these two words shown in the charts
reflecting usage would seem to indicate a concerning “trend” –
using a word (woke) which most I have heard use do not have
any definition of the word other than: “it means your are wrong!”

—”WOKE” usage has increased
(an insult defined by each individual using it –
meaning you do NOT want to be that)

—”AWAKEN” usage has gone down
(to spring into being, arise, to rouse from sleep –
in the past was a positive term)

I want to be “awakened” (to become aware and active)
and I do NOT consider “woke” an insult
============
some thoughts from ― Suzy Kassem,
Rise Up and Salute the Sun:
The Writings of Suzy Kassem

“• We awaken by asking the right questions.

• We awaken when we see knowledge being spread that
goes against our own personal experiences.

• We awaken when we see popular opinion being wrong
but accepted as being right,
and what is right being pushed as being wrong.

• We awaken by seeking answers in corners that are not popular.

• And we awaken by turning on the light inside
when everything outside feels dark.”
============

WORDS – TOOLS or WEAPONS
it is a choice . . .

———-
a footnote: in the Etymology online site, this
note appears as a part of the definition of “awake”
to indicate an exception to “awake, awaken, wake”
– basically identifying it as a word not falling
under the guides for using “awaken”
(The 2010s colloquial use of woke in relation to
political and social awareness is an exception.)