Sticks and Stones

A raw look at the emotional wounds words leave behind, the resilience it takes to stand tall, and the truth behind the old saying ‘sticks and stones’.

In the golden, neon-lit studios of memory, when news was an esteemed institution and the guardians of facts were revered, I can’t help but recall the fervor of a news anchor, ripping into the very fabric of America’s identity. A great speech that bellowed, “We were once great!” much like the voice of Will McAvoy did on that iconic stage. We prided ourselves on our resilience, our spirit, and our ability to weather storms with grit and gusto. But today, I wonder: have we become a society walking on the proverbial eggshells?

The English language, in all its vastness and grandeur, is a living entity. Like the very society that speaks it, it evolves, morphs, and adapts. Think about it. When was the last time you heard someone exclaim “cowabunga!” in genuine excitement? Words come and go, but the sentiment behind them? That’s eternal. Yet, when the use of wrong pronouns can ignite fires of fury, it makes one ask: Is it we who are old, or have certain terms just become unacceptable?

Am I just getting older, reminiscing about times when things seemed more straight forward? A time when, perhaps naively, we believed in the old adage, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But isn’t it ironic? In a time of heightened awareness and understanding, we’ve become a society where words seem to wound deeper than weapons. The world seems rife with overly sensitive souls, quick to anger and slow to understand.

And yet, the question looms: If we don’t stand for something, will we fall for anything? While it’s crucial to evolve and be empathetic, it’s equally important to differentiate between genuine acceptance and mere sensitivity. Acceptance is about embracing differences, understanding nuances, and fostering unity. Sensitivity, on the other hand, can sometimes be a thin veil for intolerance.

It’s not about being stuck in the past or resisting change. It’s about acknowledging the delicate balance between evolving societal norms and preserving the spirit of communication. Because, at the end of the day, if we lose the ability to converse, debate, and sometimes even disagree without feeling attacked, what have we truly gained?

In the words of TJ Scott, it’s essential to reflect, introspect, and find that balance. Let us not confuse sensitivity with progress, but instead, find a middle ground where acceptance reigns supreme, and words are seen for what they truly are: tools of expression, not weapons of destruction.