Sticks and Stones

This morning I decided to get back into the swing of rising a little early to have a few minutes to myself and spend some quiet time before switching on the the technology. I found a small book I have not read in nine years--Take Time by Eknath Easwaran. Eknath Easwaran was an Indian professor born in 1910. He came of age during India's struggle for independence and, as a college student, met Ghandi, who influenced a number of stories in this first chapter.

While reading I was struck by the language used in this book, which led me to the differences between American English and British English. We American choose words or phrases that (imho) have a slightly negative tint. Take for example the word vacation. American vacation, or "vacate" their lives, while the British take a holiday. Another phrase is "stand in line." Would you prefer to "stand in line" or "join the queue"?

This line of thinking also leads me down the road of derogatory terms, a topic I have discussed with people from church a couple of times and, most recently, with my children. That old saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me" is not truthful. Words have the ability to cause harm, invisible and lasting hurt. I have never been physically assaulted, but still carry wounds deep inside from words carelessly thrown out by family or friends. There are words we throw about in everyday conversation that can inadvertently cause harm. Have you ever heard a comment like "That so-and-so gypped me" or "That vendor tried to jew me down"? The words "gypped" and "jew" refer to discriminatory and stereotypes of gypsies and Jewish people. How about "Indian giver"? That one really is an ironic statement since it was not the Native American nations, but the U.S. government, who made a habit out of taking back that which was supposedly "given." Then, of course, is the modern put downs referring negatively to gays and lesbians. Those sentiments make me cringe whenever I hear them (or read them in chat). We may have made many advances in our society, but there is still much work to be done on our attitudes and tongues.

¡Hasta pronto, mis amigos!

~N