Is silence more powerful than speaking out?”

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NO - It is more powerful to speak out.

What may be safe, dignified, even wise, is silence--but safety is not power. I strongly disagree with NO: Speaking out is more powerful, since nothing has brought any form of change, justice or progress, which have been the result of silent acceptance. Whereas being silent might save the individual in the short run, being able to speak out grants the future. It questions injustice, voices the silence, and makes personal agony a social concern. History, life and society have always shown that when they talk things move; when they remain quiet, problems take their roots.

Silence is mostly commended as a source of power, however, in practice, it is usually helpful to those who are already powerful. When injustice occurs and nobody is there to raise a finger, the injustice does not fade away, it becomes the norm. Breaking the silence interferes with that comfort. It brings matters into the limelight and they have to be addressed. Power has nothing to do with evading conflict; it has to do with influencing outcomes. Making a statement is doing just that.

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An evident real-life illustration is the harassment or bullying at the workplace. In most of the offices, schools and other institutions, the bad behavior thrives due to the silence of people who fear losing jobs, reputation or even peace. However, when an individual voice is heard, even to the utmost personal danger, the whole system is changed. Policies are reviewed. Investigations begin. Other people are brave to tell their experience. The issue, that initially was under wraps is no longer to be disregarded. The silence maintained the problem alive; speaking it out was a debilitating move.

On a larger scale internationally, social progress has never been based on silence and not speech. Silence promotes corruption, discrimination, power abuse and inequality. They are revealed to the people and the whistleblowers, journalists, activists, and average citizens, who do not want to stay silent. It is a seed because it is not followed by instant triumph when one is speaking out. Awareness is the initial move towards change and it is impossible to have the awareness without words.

I have also experienced this in personal experience. When I was in school, an acquaintance was falsely charged and punished of something he did not commit. A good number of us were aware of the reality but the vast majority preferred to keep quiet to evade problems. One student, however, spoke up. Initially, that student was neglected and even called out as one who was making noise. However, since they spoke in a clear and calm tone, others heard them and eventually, the truth was realized and the innocent student was exonerated. That would never have been the case since everybody would have kept quiet. It would have been less trouble had he kept quiet--but speech was more forcible.

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It has been argued that silence is effective since it demonstrates restraint or does not fuel a conflict. Although that may apply to some personal conflicts, the subject of debate is wide and far-reaching. Silence can only spare the surface and the issues that arise always come out again, more often destructive. Early speaking in a respectful and firm manner helps in avoiding the occurrence of small issues that could end up being long-term injuries.

The other reason why speaking out is more potent is because it inspires others. A single voice does not sound big and hardly remains solitary. Individuals with a sense of powerlessness simply require an assurance that they are not the only ones. Speech creates community. Silence isolates. The strength of power increases when individuals become aware that they share similar interests and can come out to protect them.

Notably, speaking out does not imply shouting, insulting or attacking. Real strength is in the straightforwardness, logical and sincere expression. Words may be serene and tremendous systems. Speech with respect has some authority. There is a doubt about silence.

To sum up, silence can appear to be powerful, but it is frequently passive. It is an active, transformative and necessary way of speaking out. It fights against injustice, gives hope and motivation to change- be it in a classroom, a workplace, or a society. When the purpose is to achieve impact and not silent survival, it is distinctly obvious that the decision to speak is more effective--NO--speaking out.

Thanks for reading my post I'm inviting @pea07 @ninapenda and @m-fdo to participate.