Downfall Of Society: #1

I am quite certain that there will come a time, in what will soon be history, where the world as we know it will come to an end (figuratively speaking of course-although I do not doubt that the world will come to an end literally speaking as well). When this occurs, we will most certainly have only ourselves to blame for many reasons. I believe that one of these reasons will be that we have no appreciation or respect for words. I truly wish that I could say the previous sentence with an "anymore" attached to the end of it, but I am almost positive that the era of Word Appreciation (if you will) is so far gone that the word "anymore" does not give the elapsed amount of time justice.
It is all too common to hear a person exclaim, "I'm so depressed!", or, "That girl MUST have multiple personalities or be bi-polar or something!" Clearly the people making these statements do not understand the true meaning, intensity, and severity of the words and statements that they are so carelessly throwing around.
Although it is awfully sickening that people use powerful and meaningful words so loosely, the worst part of this lack of respect for our magnificent language is this: Because words are tossed around so freely and words are not actually kept accountable for their true meaning, when one does use a specific word to mean a specific thing, the intensity, specificity, and power of the word is lost to those who are hearing it. To them the words "hate" and to "love" and "adore" are all worn out washed out phrases that can mean anything from dislike and loathe to approve of and to somewhat like.
Language was put in place so that people could have the opportunity to communicate and pinpoint to others ideas, feelings, and scenarios. How are people supposed to accomplish such things when meaningful words are becoming meaningless?

Spoken Word Open Mic

There is a place that I have started going to every Sunday night (the name of which I will not mention because, no offense to anyone, but I do not particularly want anyone else attending) with a good friend of mine that I am quickly growing very fond of. It is a place that after leaving, leaves me feeling not only inspired and a part of something, but also just slightly less naive about the world and the people in it. It is a "Spoken Word, Open Mic" that attracts an extremely diverse group of people, ideas, and opinions.
The open mic is hosted by a midle-aged eccentric white man with an afro who calls himself "Kodak". The group consists of very young people who do not look old enough to drive, middle aged people, and the very elderly. There are people who come in high heels and fancy dresses, people who come in baggy t-shirts and jeans that have so many rips and holes in them that they are barely able to stay up, and many people who are clearly not wearing bras. There are people who dress to show everything they have, and those who come being sure that no one is able to see any shape their body may have. There are black people who look so very "Gangster", but then get up on stage and deliver beautiful poetry, a group of Asians, a couple of seemingly very bright homeless poeple who never cease to amaze me, an eldery teacher who, although intriguingly witty, shakes with fear and nervousness when on stage delivering his maticulously thought out peoms, and a couple of very talented musicians that deserve a break much more than the woman who calls herself Lady GaGa and The Frey who are both an awful waste of radio time. The best part of this all may be that, although everyone is so very different and unique, every single person is accepting, open-minded, and mind blowingly friendly. Every presentation, even the worst ones, gets an overwhelming supportive round of applause, and every person attending can expect to leave with at least one new friend. This may just be my third favorite place in the world. (I am not entirely sure what my second favorite place is, but I am leaving room for a second favorite just in case.