Sunday Sermon: On "Owning" People.

If you don't have anybody in your inner circle to tell ya, I'll whisper it here:  that's not a flattering phrase or a goal to encourage, "owning" other people.

Maybe in high-school debate, that was a cool thing?  but c'mon, when you've had a few years, at least, out in RealWorldAmerica in our 21st century woke times?

"My kid owned his baby sister!"  or, "I gave that customer-service worker a good talking to and when she tried to lip me back, 'I owned her!' "  No, that's not a good look...

Essentially, it seems to mean "scoring points verbally" on another person, regardless of reason or logic.  It's also a bullying word, and once your kids hit public school and try to "own" the others in the classroom, well a good teacher will likely shut that down fast...

In some parts of our Free Labor Free Soil country, nobody ever "owned" other people.  But read some history, and understand why that phrase is so noxious to most ears?  It's cute when you're a little kid, maybe, but adults don't like talk like that, for good reason.

And the practice really blunts intellectual growth, as it encourages cheap debate "wins" over actually maintaining a mature communication style that explains and educates, and moves conversations forward.

Hope this helps!  Have a blessed Palm Sunday to our Christian friends.  (Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King!  Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King!  Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  We're gong to see the King!)