I've posted this on my son's blog, but decided to post it here, as well. This is a topic that more than touches a nerve with me and is a very real part of my life (and our family's).
I hear you (believe me, you’ve forced me to listen): Freedom
of Speech.
I know the argument; it’s been used to death: Literary
license.
But guess what? Those excuses to say or write disparaging
and hurtful things in reference to a whole population of beautiful people are
just that…excuses. And I, for one, am so done with them.
You know the word I’m talking about.
Retard.
Or retarded.
Or ‘tard.
I’ve heard people use it to mean “stupid” or “foolish” or
when addressing someone who is not acting the way he or she should be. It is
meant to link someone’s less-than-intelligent behavior with cognitive
disabilities, Down syndrome, CP, and Trisomy 18 to name just a few, thereby
victimizing and undervaluing people who have never done a single thing to harm anyone
else. These are people who are loved, people who bring joy and happiness to
others’ lives, and people who have no control over their diagnoses. But you can
control your language. You can show compassion.
I’ve lost respect for writers who have used the word in
their screenplays, directors who have allowed it in their films and television
shows, and authors who’ve inserted it in their books. I don’t give a @#$% about
literary or poetic license or if the word fits the character. Get an f----ing
dictionary! You’re a writer, for goodness sake! Whether spoken or written, it’s
time to display some sensitivity. To stop discriminating.
Today is Spread the Word to End the Word Day. Please think
before you speak. Please realize the pain you inflict when you casually toss
out the r-word. In the end, the ones who use the r-word are the ones who come
out looking like the least educated people in the bunch.
Compassion and awareness go a long way.
I hate this word and never use it. I didn't know there was a day to end it but I think that is a very worthwhile cause! Good job spreading the word.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie. I feel as though I can speak to this not only because of my son, but because I've used the word in the past--before he was born. It's not that hard to change our speech.
DeleteI heart U. That is all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sheri. I heart you, too!
DeleteNot a word I use!
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% Susan!! It's time that this word vanishes from our lexicon.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I remember the day and age when "political correctness" came into style. It kind of made me crazy. To this day, it kind of drives me batty because people are constantly redefining what words you can and can't use without coming across as a heathen. I'm not necessarily saying this word is one bothers me, just the whole concept in general.
ReplyDeleteWhich really is the nature of language since the world was once a very patriarchal place. Still is. So much of our lexicon is defined by this discriminatory history. As the world changes, so should our language. To me, it's easy to change the way we speak, especially if it means showing compassion and giving humanity to other human beings. IMHO. It truly drives home the need when you're directly impacted by language, which you should be as a woman. There are many more derogatory terms for women in our language than for men. I have always been offended by them. And you won't see me using those words in my writing either.
DeleteI hate when people say "That's so retarded" or otherwise use that word in a derogatory way. It's also offensive when people say "That's so gay," or throw around words like Nazi, raped, and Gulag like they're no big deal. Do these people not understand what these words actually mean?
ReplyDeleteI agree, Carrie-Anne. I am equally offended when I hear "gay" used in a negative fashion. Retard and gay seem to be the "hip" things to say these days.
DeleteI think people need to be careful with words like "retarded," "gay," and so on when they're displeased about someone or something.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you. Compassion indeed goes a long way. We are so conditioned to judge others without blinking or giving actual thought. All negative words should be thrown out of window.
ReplyDelete