While doing a search this morning on bible study for special needs kids, I came across this blog. It goes over what I have told people for years. I have let myself slip a few times over the past 2 or 3 years, and used the word myself, but I am again eradicating the word from my vocabulary. I take offense when I hear the word, and have often spoken up to whomever has used it (very unusual for me, as I usually don't do anything to draw attention to myself, or cause conflict).
Anyway, read the excerpt below, and check out the link, which has more detail. If you are even REMOTELY connected to someone with special needs, it will hopefully change your thinking, if you don't already avoid this horrible word.
www.blogcatalog.com/blog/parents-of-kids-adults-with-special-needs/fdba55cf3a95ca8b720cc79aca13fd7d
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
End the "R" Word
Recently, as I walked through downtown Denver enjoying an evening out with my husband, we were surrounded by people having fun. They were all kinds of groups, young and older, just chatting away. During the period of about an hour, I heard the word "retard" at least three times.
Everyone uses it, you say? It's just a word, right? A word that used to mean one thing, and now means something else? You don't mean anything by it, right? "I was just kidding!"
Do you have any idea how many times people with developmental disabilities are called the "R" word - in a way that is meant to be derogatory? And now, this word has become an adjective used as much as any other negative word to describe a person.
Face it - the "R" word is the equivalent of the "N" word. While it may have been somehow "acceptable" ions ago, it is now a slur. And the use of the word in any sentence is wrong - by anyone - any time.
That is why, when Dick Morris said the "R" word on the O'Reilly Factor on February 9, people with intellectual disabilities and the actor John C. McGinley from Scrubs, developed a video and a campaign to end the "R" word. They are seeking our help to end the use of the "R" word by spreading the word.
Anyway, read the excerpt below, and check out the link, which has more detail. If you are even REMOTELY connected to someone with special needs, it will hopefully change your thinking, if you don't already avoid this horrible word.
www.blogcatalog.com/blog/parents-of-kids-adults-with-special-needs/fdba55cf3a95ca8b720cc79aca13fd7d
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
End the "R" Word
Recently, as I walked through downtown Denver enjoying an evening out with my husband, we were surrounded by people having fun. They were all kinds of groups, young and older, just chatting away. During the period of about an hour, I heard the word "retard" at least three times.
Everyone uses it, you say? It's just a word, right? A word that used to mean one thing, and now means something else? You don't mean anything by it, right? "I was just kidding!"
Do you have any idea how many times people with developmental disabilities are called the "R" word - in a way that is meant to be derogatory? And now, this word has become an adjective used as much as any other negative word to describe a person.
Face it - the "R" word is the equivalent of the "N" word. While it may have been somehow "acceptable" ions ago, it is now a slur. And the use of the word in any sentence is wrong - by anyone - any time.
That is why, when Dick Morris said the "R" word on the O'Reilly Factor on February 9, people with intellectual disabilities and the actor John C. McGinley from Scrubs, developed a video and a campaign to end the "R" word. They are seeking our help to end the use of the "R" word by spreading the word.
I really like that you posted this, I never thought of relating it to the use of the "N" word. I can argue much more effectively against the use of this word now thanks to this.
ReplyDeleteUnless someone can think of a better word, the only time it should be used is when repairing or servicing an engine in regards to ignition, fuel or camshaft timing. Otherwise I wholeheartedly agree. I put this word in the top three most offensive words. I've been acutely conscious of its use for many years and I recently had a very stern talk with both of my kids regarding it's use.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this, Love. Education is the key. Even some of your neices have used the R word. I'll bet their parent's see this and remember better. Give our darling boy a hug and kiss from Mimi, by the way. Mom
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree. always have!! Remember my darling nephew Russ. And having some kids with Asperger's, kept me aware of the use.
ReplyDeleteAbout a year ago I was invited to a "friend's" house. Her daughters were home from college for Christmas, and she had another family over. One of the women has a child with some serious learning difficulties (don't know exactly what...just that at age 12 they were still not able to allow her to take the school bus home alone and be at home even for 1/2 hour)
So anyway, as we all were sitting around the table and visiting, sharing someone's birthday cake, etc, the older daughter of the family (the older sister of the child with the learning disability, who is definitely old enough to know better,) was telling a story of some sort, and said someone was 'retarded'. There were a few chuckles, and I quietly said, "are you aware of just how offensive that statement was?" Now, these women are all Lesbians so the 'mom' part can get confusing. But one of the moms, along for the evening, but not the one the girls live with, looked surprised but interested. I explained my views, and one of the kids from the other family told about her experience of using that expression in school a few years earlier, and being sent to detention after a quick educational lecture. I told them I feel it is extremely important that we all learn to express ourselves honestly and kindly, and the matter seemed to be ended.
Until a few days later! The woman who had originally invited me received a phone call from the other mom, the birth mom of these girls, who had heard about it from mom #2; mom 2 was in agreement, mom #1 was furious! Because her older daughter had been embarrassed!! No matter that her youngest child has serious difficulties, mom #1 and older daughter then decided that it was funny to turn it all into a big joke, and then everything and everyone became 'retarded".
I'm no longer doing any type of socialization with that particular group; they got 90 seconds of 'sensitivity training' and I decided i don't need that kind of thinking, or non-thinking, in my life on a willing basis.
Bandwagon people. They'll jump on it when everyone else is on it. I guess - whatever it takes. They know not what they do, apparently. Victoria
ReplyDelete