Sticks-and-Stones
It’s in human nature to overcome adversity. When we have a weakness – we seek to overcome it or hide it. Many of us strive so hard to overcome it that we dedicate our lives to it (e.g., Chuck Close has a learning disability that makes him forget faces instantly and he is currently the world’s most famous living portrait painter). In that vein, we can also seek out strength in the ways other intend to demean us. Lesbians claim “Dyke”, African-Americans claim “Nigger”, Gays claim “Faggot”, some women claim “Whore”, some teens claim “Emo” (for “Emotionally Overwhelmed”), smart teens claim “Weirdo” “Geek” and “Nerd”. When they claim it – it takes the power away from the derogatory user and lets the offended say “I claim my uniqueness and am proud of it – so there!”.
