Good point.
Some people say words don't matter as long as we know what people reeeeeeeeeeeallly mean, as well as the "sticks and stones" defence against words some people are offended with, and that language usage changes over time. Others say words matter because it's how we express and explain ideas.
An example: this one time, a Canadian PM
highlighted a range of values as being Canadian ...
- openness;
- respect;
- compassion;
- willingness to work hard;
- to be there for each other; and
- to search for equality and justice
... and a lot of folks now calling for a "Canadian Values" pledge now didn't seem all that happy with that.