Sticks and Stones

You know, I was taking a class in speech communications required to get my degree, and there is a section in the textbook about verbal communications.
The thought struck me about the phrase. "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words would never hurt me."
How many times have we heard this ridiculous saying? It's a lie you know, we like to pretend that what people say has no effect what so ever on what we think about ourselves and what we believe, but how much do we go through in life that proves that words hurt. Words used maliciously can cut to the bone. What about the phrase "Truth hurts" or the term "Verbal Abuse."  I watch the kids today and see them getting ulcers or committing suicide for fear of what their peers say about them. How people used social sites on the internet and use written word to bash someone else. Women and girls starving themselves or gorging themselves and then purging for fear of being called fat. Men and women wearing this or doing that to say they blend in with society. Come on now, how many times and situations can people prove that words have the ability to kill. Language is a gift of communication given to man to differentiate us as a top species with written and verbal abilities to communicate, why then can't we use it to build and educate. In relationships words used with the intent of hurting someone can sever the relationship more than if it was severed by the lack of communication. So stick will hurt physcially but words can destroy and cripple anyone at any given time. Think before you speak, and please reflect before you write.