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| Image credit: https://crossfitodyssey.com/sunday-story-sticks-and-stones/ |
When I was a little boy and people used unkind words I was told to retort,
"Sticks and stones can break my bones,
But words can never harm me."
At the time I believed this, and it helped me get past a few difficult situations as a young child, but I now know this not to be true. Words can and do harm; they have the power to harm or to heal, to instruct or to mislead. They can convey whether we are arrogant, officious, paternalistic and patronising, or genuinely compassionate, empathetic and caring. The words we use betray our unconscious attitudes and unchallenged stereotypes, or help us serve the poor with love, respect, justice and joy.
For more on this, please have another look at our 8 minute training video "SSVP Mission, Respect and Stereotypes".