Sarcasm hurts.

Yesterday at church, during Joys and Sorrows, I mentioned the plane crash in Poland, and offered my prayers. I also mentioned that I was part Polish, and this incident affects me personally. After services, a man in the congregation that I know -- let's call him Joe -- came up to me and said, "You're Polish? That's too bad." He later said he was teasing. But that didn't take the sting out of his previous words. To add insult to injury, Joe commented on my ability to read, after he saw me looking at the bulletin board.

I should be thick-skinned enough to forget about these incidents. But I'm not.

In our church, we believe in the dignity and worth of every person. This incident shows that there are still people out there who don't live this ideal.

Sarcasm hurts. It's like being hit in the side with a padded sword. It may not draw blood, but it leaves a welt.

Why do people engage in such disprectful behavior? It's like seeing someone and calling out, "Hey shithead! How's it going?" What do people get out of it? Or are they wounded enough to lash out at everyone they see, or some people in particular?

At least my cats don't say things like that to me.