Loren Lippincott
Most everyone acknowledges the power of words and it’s interesting how sometimes just speaking a truth out loud can have dramatic consequences. This is powerfully illustrated by something that happened in my own family many years ago.
One evening when my dad was 40 and Mom was 35 they were entertaining another couple from town and my father leaned back and said, “I’ve always wanted to learn how to fly an airplane.” “Me, too!” said the other man. It wasn’t long before the two of them started taking flying lessons, followed shortly by both of their wives. Before long all four had earned their private pilot licenses. That started something in our family, and because our father, in his middle age years, had stepped out of his comfort zone, challenged himself and pursued a dream, my older brother and I both followed in his footsteps (or perhaps I should say “his flight path”). Two of his four children ended up having careers in aviation.
Soon after my parents started flying, a new language came into our household; the unique jargon of aviation. The art of flying with its many moving parts and the need for good communication within the cockpit, with other aircraft and air traffic controllers, requires word efficiency. Vocal transmissions must be clear, brief and to the point.
My time in the Nebraska legislature has taught me another language – the language of politics. In the arena of ideas many words get tossed around but that doesn’t always mean clear communication is happening. While serving as a legislative page in my college years I worked with my state senator, Maurice Kremer of Aurora. Unlike many, he was a man of few words, but when he stood to speak, a hush came over the legislative body, because his fellow lawmakers knew what he had to say would be words of wisdom. Every new freshman class of senators always voted Sen. Kremer the most respected and admired lawmaker. His words were measured, meaningful and always with purpose. Contrast this to the bombastic hyperbole often coming from many of today’s politicians. They need to heed the words of King Solomon who said, “The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?” Speaking of a particular politician in his day Abraham Lincoln said, “He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas of any man I ever met.” Effective and efficient word usage is usually a sign of someone who is knowledgeable on the subject matter at hand. In Air Force officer training we were taught spoken or written communications should be short, strong, simple and sincere. These same four words should also be applied to communications between and to legislators by their constituents.
Another piece of advice I would add is don’t be redundant. Whether writing a note to a senator or testifying before a committee, be brief, original as possible and add a personal testimonial. Throwing in an emotional word picture is even better! Facts and figures are soon forgotten, but stories with emotional impact stick because they are relatable to one’s own life.
Speaker John Arch recently told me, “It is important to get ideas to the floor of the Legislature so the best ideas can surface.” The same idea was espoused by George Washington who said, “Truth will ultimately prevail when there are pains taken to bring it to light.”
More and more on both the state and national level we see one side of the argument trying to silence the other by shouting, name calling or even by force, but this abuses rather than promotes freedom of speech. I used to think the best strategy was to simply silence ideas that were contrary to my world view, but I have learned it is better to paint with bright colors the ideas that align with objective truth. Instead of trying to shout down those with contrary opinions, I have learned it is best to just keep clearly and concisely articulating the truth in a way that is winsome and respectful. That is the way minds and hearts are ultimately changed.
Loren Lippincott represents Legislative District 34 in the Nebraska State Senate. Read his column in the Nance County Journal.