It's tomorrow. And it's also every day. The R-Word website sums it up more perfectly than I can:
"The R-word is the word 'retard(ed)'. Why does it hurt? The R-word hurts because it is exclusive. It’s offensive. It’s derogatory. The R-word is hate speech."
How "retardation" went from a clinical description to a word of derision
"When they were originally introduced, the terms 'mental retardation' or 'mentally retarded' were medical terms with a specifically clinical connotation; however, the pejorative forms, 'retard' and 'retarded' have been used widely in today’s society to degrade and insult people with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, when 'retard' and 'retarded' are used as synonyms for 'dumb' or 'stupid' by people without disabilities, it only reinforces painful stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities being less valued members of humanity."
Consider taking the pledge. I have.
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I'm with you, Susan! I took the pledge 2 years ago after learning about it from "Take a Walk on the Happy Side": http://marie-everydaymiracle.blogspot.com/2010/03/end-r-word.html
ReplyDeleteThis has always been a big pet peeve of mine! My sister's husband is an adaptive PE teacher, and his sister-in-law always uses the "r" word--she's even a teacher!
Missed it, but yeah. I fully agree. Having a sibiling who is not as everyone else, I have felt your pain and anger many times.
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