by Simonne Liberty

Created on: July 19, 2009

Words are simply words, but society has become obsessed with turning them into weapons to create chaos. Years ago parents taught children to say, to kids who bullied and tease them, "Sticks and stones will hurt my bones, but words will never hurt me." This was said when children were abused verbally by words from other children. The words, "Yo mama," are used in trying to provoke a fight. Words like; "Fatty, fatty two by four could not get through the kitchen door," are still used to torment children who are overweight.

The word "retard," was and still is, used to belittle those who did not learn in the same ways as the average student. Any word that is "deliberately" used to put down another, could be considered discriminatory. However, we have gone beyond words simply being used as words.We have become paranoid of using words to describe a situation, or an event.

The "N" word has become so powerful, that even the news media is afraid to use the word. If I dare to use it in this article to explain my point, the editors would most likely censor my entire article for it. Blacks can use the word at will to intimidate whites, but if a white person were to use it to simply explain something, all hell would break loose. It is discriminatory for blacks to be given "exclusive rights" to use the word, and accusing anyone else who were to use it, as being a racist.

The ball team called, "Red Skins," was attacked a few years ago by Native Americans, as a discriminatory word against their race. Little children use the "F" word like it is a grown up thing to do. They don't even know it's meaning half the time. No one get all riled up about that word. Any word can be twisted and used as an insult or fighting word. It is the way a word is used that makes it offensive or discriminatory. Lawyers are masters at twisting words in the court room, to make an innocent person appear guilty, so they can win a conviction.

Our society has become so sensitive over certain words, that they don't even have the common sense to know how to separate the difference. If a person would say, "That woman has a retarded son," they would simply be describing the child's condition. On the other hand, if a person were to go to that child and call him a "retard," that would be a different matter. I have learning disabilities, and I have often been call "stupid," because I could not spell, or do advanced math. People with learning disabilities have been found to have higher IQ's than average people. We are far to obsessed about offending someone over a word. We have become paranoid and fearful of saying anything. Any word can be used against us as a "hate crime," and we can be thrown into prison for it.

We act like small children who are not mature enough to know the difference between an explanation, or an insult. We use names as an attack against us, instead of ignoring the power that we give them. We all need to grow up.

Learn more about this author, Simonne Liberty.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.