“Sticks and stones…” goes the childhood taunt. Words. Used loosely, they lose meaning. Used with precision, they can guide a nation back to sanity.

I hear, read, and see these words everywhere this week, yet ignorant or deliberate use of them to “win” over the other guy serves only to inflame. A club over the head doesn’t get my attention, it prompts retaliation. Too many use these words in club-like statements to deflect or to assign blame, hitting, wounding, breaking bonds of our common interests.

“Patriot.” “Hostage.” “Gun to the head.” “Snake oil.” I could go on. I catch myself spouting them, a habit quickly acquired, a bad habit.

Here’s another word: SHAME!