By Shelby Artis

1.     1. Language is key to our society. It works as both an empowerment and to some, as a weapon. Using language in a positive manner can build someone up and make not only the person using the positive language feel good about doing so, but also make the person receiving the positive vibes feel better about themselves. However, when used negatively, you could tear that same person down equally as quickly as you had once built them up. With that being said, society needs to work as a whole to eliminate the negative side of language in order to continue the empowerment of it that way we can continue to build those around us up.
2. When I think of someone who has power, with the exception of if they were born into it, that power is a huge privilege. You as a person have done things to draw positive attention to yourself from those around you and by doing so, have earned a place of power above others. However, though power and privilege work together, one must note that there are some slight differences in the two words. One being that power is something that is usually held over others, and privilege can be something you are lucky to have.
3. I'm someone who is usually all about respecting myself and others. Therefore, after reading the people-first language my personal commitment is to treat those in a matter I would wish to be treated and to watch how I speak to others who may be different from myself.