"They"

Joel McReynolds, in his article, "Stop Using This Word" in Relevant Magazine, writes:

I was explaining to friends that if a student doesn’t feel like they have a voice within a classroom setting, they probably won’t feel like they have a voice in local politics. Out of my mouth came: “Well if they don’t feel respected...then they...and they...” 

Suddenly it hit me—despite all my good intentions, I was perpetuating the “otherness” of the local Hispanic population with my careless language. Through my words, I created a mentality of “us” and “them,” “we” versus “they.” I was furthering the idea that we need to help them. This patronizing attitude flowing from my speech was undermining the values of equality and diversity I strongly believe in.

[http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/whole-life/stop-using-word]