Sticks & Stones

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me. A rhyme ringing through my ears that was taught to us to dismiss the harsh words said to us by our own peers. But here's the thing. Broken bones will always heal. But the emotional scarring left behind by the people we dare to call our friends is the only thing I feel.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but all it takes is one word to create a new insecurity. Just one word to ruin someone's day. So please just watch what you say. That girl you called ugly will apply makeup to her beautiful acne covered face. So that for once she might think she's good enough and not just a disgrace. She will begin to watch her weight due to the simple fact that you called her fat because of how much she ate. Because to society beauty is only achievable if there is a gap between your thighs and contour on your face.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but that teenage boy you called fat is now unhappy with his weight. You can find him at the gym staying late every night. He is afraid to ask another girl out because you said he's not the right height. Because girls don't date shorter guys and guys are only cute when they wear suits and ties. Because if you want to be hot you have to have abs, maybe join a sport, and not have to catch cabs.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but why do I have to be a slut? Because I thought I loved a guy and gave it up? And then what? Because maybe I tried it more than one time? And maybe I liked it a little, is that such a crime? But why do I have to be the outcast? Looked at like I'm dirty. When guys get praised for talking to girls and doing more than just flirting.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but racism will never go away. I witness it in my own neighborhood almost every single day. A black man gets shot for concealing a candy bar. But a white man won't go to jail after rapping women because he won't survive behind bars? Why should one color be greater than the other when we are both exactly the same! We both have arms and legs don't we? We all play the same game. We all just try to live day by day. So why should it matter if you are black or white. Straight, Lesbian, or Gay?

Sticks and stones may break my bones but why can't we all just get along. Sit in a circle and pass this little bong? Take a hit of peacefulness. Try to love a little more and hate a little less. Be like John Lennon and just imagine! Just for one second that we could all live together. Peacefully, without discretion against race, religion, and gender.