Dragons, Kitties, and the Truth About Words

If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?

If I Could Ban a Word, It Would Be… “Ban.”

I teach in an inner-city high school. I’ve heard words that make my ears wilt, words so sharp they could slice through a fire alarm cable (not that any of my students would ever do such a thing, of course). There are words I wish didn’t exist—words hurled like weapons, words soaked in pain, words that seem to carry the weight of generations.

Years ago, I asked Dr. Bill Lau if he ever fought dragons spiritually. He leaned in, eyes knowing, and said, “You would like that because you are dramatic. But sometimes, when you fight your dragons, you make them bigger. Sometimes it is better to turn around and pet the kitty behind you. And sometimes… you do have to fight your dragons. That requires discernment.”

That truth has rattled in my brain ever since. Banning a word is like picking a fight with a dragon—sometimes it only makes the fire burn hotter. Laws don’t change behavior; human behavior changes laws. We can try to erase words, outlaw phrases, silence voices—but the real work? That happens in the heart.

Maybe instead of banning words, we should ban apathy. Ban hopelessness. Ban the belief that nothing can change. Ban the idea that some people are beyond redemption. Ban the notion that kindness is weakness.

And if all else fails? Just bring a laser pointer. Even dragons—er, students—get distracted.

Because here’s the thing: words are powerful, but they’re not invincible. They can wound, but they can also heal. They can divide, but they can also unite. And sometimes, the best way to disarm a word isn’t to ban it—it’s to replace it with something better. A joke. A story. A moment of connection. A reminder that words only have the power we give them.

So, no, I wouldn’t ban a word. I’d ban the idea that we’re powerless against them. Because the truth is, we’re not. We just have to choose our battles—and our kitties—wisely.