Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Just Don't Use It
Today I ask you to "Spread the Word to End the Word." This is a campaign to end the use of the words "retarded" and "retard" as slang.
Because even if you "don't mean it like that", there is no doubt that these words originated from speaking about individuals with cognitive disabilities. People like Cora. But now it has evolved to refer to anything that we want to call stupid, dumb, worthless, or vile. And that hurts.
Even the medical community is using this phrase less and less frequently, aware that its use as slang has made it offensive. It is now considered a disability slur, a hate word.
So take a few minutes to think about how using this word would make a mother like me feel. How it would make anyone who loves someone with an intellectual disability feel. How it will one day make Cora feel. Even if you think that this is an issue of being "over sensitive", it's really just a matter of respect.
So take the challenge today and make the pledge. Pledge to Spread the Word to End the Word and stop using the words "retarded" and "retard."