War of Words

I have been around the block now for nearly seven decades and I confess to remembering a single time when a war of words has had a truly satisfying ending. Before going any further, let me qualify that statement by saying I am referring to those times when two individuals - sometimes family members, friends, strangers or even public or private figures - verbally clash. One tosses a zinger at the other. The other responds in-kind only with a bit more punch. Before you can say, "War of the Roses," the initial party drops a slightly bigger put-down. The other, of course, sends another verbal blast across the bough. And so it goes. Oh, and did I mention that while this is going on, each person is getting redder and redder behind the ears?

Rarely in such scenarios does one party ever take a step back and say, "Boy, that was a good put-down. There's no way I can respond to that. I surrender." Almost always, no matter how insensitive, illogical or vulgar the comment might be, the party that is most offended - at this point it is likely both of them - fires back. Even if one or both "warriors" throw up their hands and walk away, this battle never really ends. Hard feelings remain. Hurt feelings never quite get pushed under the rug. Whatever relationship the two might have had before the clash, it is now different. Slightly ajar. A return to what it was before the joust, at the very least, will take awhile.

Presently, the leaders of the United States and North Korea are involved in such a war. Not surprisingly, it is continuing to escalate. Words like "destroy," "war," and "bomb" are now a regular part of their exchange. A big concern is that this verbal war may turn into one of a different and more harmful kind. The two may run out of verbal slaps and decide to pursue a slap of another kind. Unless these men reign themselves in, their communication efforts may go horribly wrong for themselves and the people they represent.