“In the use of political language, not only what is said matters, but how it is said”
Paulo Coelho said that “there is a language that goes beyond words.” I, as an individual, woman and councilor of the Canarian Coalition in the opposition, believe that the use of language or vocabulary used by any person in general, and in this case, by any politician or public official, should be considered as a tool that empowers us, that can and should be used to dialogue and maintain constructive communication, where respect, inclusion and that is aimed at promoting understanding and free thinking should prevail at all times.
This powerful tool is fundamental in the holding of municipal plenary sessions, which is the body formed by all the councilors grouped in the municipal groups and who presides over it is the mayor and we can say that it is the first forum for debate and decision-making.
In my capacity as councilor since June 2023, I have participated in the ordinary and extraordinary plenary sessions that have been held and on repeated occasions I have felt embarrassed and ashamed at the "tone" and the unethical and moral nuance that has provoked me certain language and ways in which some members of the Government Group have addressed the opposition.
At this point, I am not referring to that dialectic or ridiculous diatribes they use to ridicule the interventions, motions or proposals, in order to devalue and devalue the work of the members of the opposition, such as their already hackneyed "ABSOLUTISIMA majority", which is ridiculously repetitive.
Leaving aside this game of the cat that wants to catch the mouse and if it could eliminate it, shame and embarrassment has produced me the repeated occasions in which Mr. Tono Rocío, from my point of view, has addressed a member of the opposition, a person with a disability, in a tone of total lack of tact, addressing phrases such as "if you don't know how to read", "it's not his problem if you have any comprehension problem" or "of course, today they have let him speak because his partner has not come" followed by laughter and mocking faces by his colleagues. These interventions demonstrate the little knowledge of what the word inclusion entails, that flag that the socialists in San Bartolomé are waving so badly, but which they boast so much about.
You may ask yourselves, if it bothers you so much, why haven't you intervened and called their attention? Mea Culpa, I have no excuses. Just say that I am a woman with character and I have had to bite my tongue to try not to appear combative or whiny, but unfortunately yesterday, at 9:43 exactly, in the plenary hall of the City Council of San Bartolomé, a surreal and very inelegant situation has been experienced again by Antonio Rocío, where he again uses a rude and vulgar language directed at the opposition, given the knowledge that part of the opposition had not received in a timely manner the calls to informative sessions and plenary sessions, being myself, a victim.
My response as an educated and logical person would be: "there must have been a problem, one moment we are going to check it" and not the response I received "don't come to fuck me" and "don't be touching my balls". Faced with this situation, as you will understand in a calm and peaceful manner, I respond "those are not ways", "Tono, I have not come here to touch anyone's balls".
In conclusion, politicians must use at all times, in every place and situation, a respectful and considerate language, which does not originate negative feelings. Words that do not generate discomfort or attack the dignity of people, words that may be considered rude and inappropriate.... That is the power of language, it is not only important what is said, but how it is said.
