I want to mention that today is Spread the Word to End the Word day.
I regularly follow this blog, which is always insightful and thought-provoking to begin with, but today's post speaks for itself. If you could please take a moment and read this post on the use of the word *reta*d* and the efforts to stop its use, I would appreciate it.
Using the r-word is demeaning and derogatory to people with disabilities, with different-abilities. It is offensive to those who love them. It is offensive because in many cases, the person in whom that r-word is referring to, is someone who cannot defend themselves. It is offensive on so many levels, yet you wouldn't believe how often the word is used and by whom the word is used.
When used as a synonym for stupid, idiotic, dumb, dopey, foolish, thick, dull, dim, obtuse...slow...and weak, the r-word serves to call people with any type of different-abilities all these things.
Some people think it's cool to use the word. Some people get very defensive when you point out how that word hurts. Some people pull out the "freedom of speech card". I get it. We all have the right to say any word.
But that doesn't mean we should. Get it?
Some people say it's just a word and it doesn't mean anything. But the people whom the r-word "refers" to are a wide range of people who have had, and continue to, fight for everything. Fight for rights, fight to live, fight for basic necessities, fight for things we take for granted every day, fight for an equal education, fight for access to the world, fight for fair treatment, fight to stop abuse, fight for a voice, fight for equality, fight pity, fight to live with the same respect as we all do. So it means a hell of a lot when someone continues to oppress and demean by using the r-word.
Sometimes it's hard to do the right thing. Sometimes it's not hard at all. Sometimes people will make it a hard thing, because they don't want to change. Because hurting someone, demeaning someone, belittling someone, insulting someone, hurting someone--is apparently the cool thing to do. Maybe you don't use the word yourself...but I bet you've heard someone use it. I hope you chose to eliminate it from your vocab. I hope you choose to speak up the next time you hear/read it.
All you have to do is, choose not to use the r-word. And if you choose to do more, you can tell people, politely, when you hear it, or read it, that it offends you. That it oppresses and victimizes different-abled people, and in no way is that cool.
When I hear it (like, when I heard a cashier at a local store use it two weeks ago), or when I see someone use in a FB post, I say to that person: "Using the r-word continues to oppress and serves to dehumanize people with mental and physical disabilities, such as my daughter. It is demeaning, and I find it offensive."
I'm sure we can all find other ways to express our thoughts without insulting an entire population in the process. Really, what could be easier?
I regularly follow this blog, which is always insightful and thought-provoking to begin with, but today's post speaks for itself. If you could please take a moment and read this post on the use of the word *reta*d* and the efforts to stop its use, I would appreciate it.
Using the r-word is demeaning and derogatory to people with disabilities, with different-abilities. It is offensive to those who love them. It is offensive because in many cases, the person in whom that r-word is referring to, is someone who cannot defend themselves. It is offensive on so many levels, yet you wouldn't believe how often the word is used and by whom the word is used.
When used as a synonym for stupid, idiotic, dumb, dopey, foolish, thick, dull, dim, obtuse...slow...and weak, the r-word serves to call people with any type of different-abilities all these things.
Some people think it's cool to use the word. Some people get very defensive when you point out how that word hurts. Some people pull out the "freedom of speech card". I get it. We all have the right to say any word.
But that doesn't mean we should. Get it?
Some people say it's just a word and it doesn't mean anything. But the people whom the r-word "refers" to are a wide range of people who have had, and continue to, fight for everything. Fight for rights, fight to live, fight for basic necessities, fight for things we take for granted every day, fight for an equal education, fight for access to the world, fight for fair treatment, fight to stop abuse, fight for a voice, fight for equality, fight pity, fight to live with the same respect as we all do. So it means a hell of a lot when someone continues to oppress and demean by using the r-word.
Sometimes it's hard to do the right thing. Sometimes it's not hard at all. Sometimes people will make it a hard thing, because they don't want to change. Because hurting someone, demeaning someone, belittling someone, insulting someone, hurting someone--is apparently the cool thing to do. Maybe you don't use the word yourself...but I bet you've heard someone use it. I hope you chose to eliminate it from your vocab. I hope you choose to speak up the next time you hear/read it.
All you have to do is, choose not to use the r-word. And if you choose to do more, you can tell people, politely, when you hear it, or read it, that it offends you. That it oppresses and victimizes different-abled people, and in no way is that cool.
When I hear it (like, when I heard a cashier at a local store use it two weeks ago), or when I see someone use in a FB post, I say to that person: "Using the r-word continues to oppress and serves to dehumanize people with mental and physical disabilities, such as my daughter. It is demeaning, and I find it offensive."
I'm sure we can all find other ways to express our thoughts without insulting an entire population in the process. Really, what could be easier?
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