This one will be short and not so sweet.
I’m going to be blunt as it’s the best
way I know how to be.
If you are
still using the word retard(ed), and you're ok with it, then you’ll also need to be ok with
someone taxing you for talking like that.
John C. McGinnley, a well-known actor, has a son with Down
syndrome.
He has made numerous
comments about taxing the “R” word.
I can stand behind his opinion about it 100%.
If you belittle any other group of people with a derogatory
slur, you will indefinitely be called out for it. Depending on whom you are
around, and where you’re at, you just might get your nose broke or worse.
Individuals with intellectual disabilities (as a group) do
not have a loud enough voice to speak up and stand up for themselves. They need others to be
their voice. That’s why the “R”
word is one of the last derogatory slurs still largely unchecked in our
society.
“You’re being too PC.” Wrong. I’m being a decent human being
that thinks first and cares about the words that come out of my mouth.
“It’s my right.
Freedom of speech.” The government might protect your sewer mouth, but don’t get
upset when someone checks you for it and shuts it with a fist or blunt object.
“I didn’t mean it THAT way.”
No I’m sure you didn’t.
But you did use it as a “less than” term. “That’s so
retarded”.
Meaning whatever you’re
referring to is “less than” something else.
That translates as people with intellectual disabilities
being “less than”.
If you feel
that way, you have that right, but don’t expect everyone to be ok with it.
It’s just not acceptable,
and it’s time for those of us with spines and loud voices to start using them in
response. How’s that for being PC? Think before you speak and we can all
continue to use our heads instead of our fists.
