Insurance, the President, and Gypsies

I never thought these things would have something in common, but low and behold, they do! President Obama stated that he didn't want the American people to get 'gyped' by insurance companies. Yes, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize said that.

I've heard the phrase 'sticks and stones' before, and there are activists out there who claim that words only hurt if we let them. The problem is, words DO hurt, especially when they are being spoken by one of the most powerful men in the world.

You need words to declare war, you need words to talk peace. You need words to spread the word of God and you need words to spread the message of hate. Words uplift and commend and they knock down and destroy. Everyday we are judged on our ability to use words. Judgement calls are made, all based on words.

And then there is that word that we can't seem to get rid of. The stigma of "Gypsy". To the outsider, the word means 'thief', 'con-artist', and 'vagrant'. Few outsiders know what it really means, and the past few days have been interesting watching people discover the origin of the word and who we really are.

The problem with words is that they tend to stick in people's minds. I just read a blog on a website stating that the gays and lesbians are feeling 'gyped' by Obama. Words, when spoken by people of authority, carry even more weight and the abilty to do more damage than the same word spoken by the average man.

So, the President used the phrase 'gyped'. I was waiting for 'so lets Jew 'em down!' to follow. I was stunned. I had hopes, I really did, that perhaps somewhere in the world someone would begin to see. Madonna stepped up to the plate and the world took notice for awhile. Now the President himself has taken the bat in hand. This could actually be a good thing.

Yes, I said a good thing. We are beginning to come together, even stronger than ever. There are hundreds of blogs out there about Obama's statement, some good and some bad, but they are out there. People are talking. And we are writing.

The world is starting to see us. They have to. We need to use the momentum that is happening around us to make the world a better place for us and for our children, and even for the outsiders. Step forward and take a stand. Write the President at WhiteHouse.gov. Write you local congressman, senator, and the editors to your paper. It doesn't have to be a flowery speech worthy of publication, just add your voice to those around you. The world needs to see that even though we are separated around the globe, we are united in voice.

Someone once told me "you need to find your voice. Look inside. And when you do find it, start screaming until someone takes notice." So, my friends, start screaming.