Upon reading the March 2013 issue of Glamour, I found this article on page 306:
While I believe some of the top 10 are a bit ridiculous, #3 screamed out to me. Finally! Something that I could actually identify with.
Frequent readers know that my soapbox is, in fact, the use of the r-word.
"omg, I am so retarded"
"what a retard"
"That is so retarded".
Phrases that I still continue to hear nearly every day. In my presence. In passing. Phrases while are not directed at my 3 year-old still sting.
Every time I hear the word retarded, I picture my Ellie and a piece of me cries out each time. A little bit of my heart twists. I have written about celebrities and politicians using the r-word to create a joke. To generate a laugh. All at the expense of those with special needs and their families who love them. As you know, I could go on and on. I could give you pages of different words instead of retard. Words that are much more appropriate. I could tell you how offensive and derogatory the word is. How it is similar to saying nigger or fag. Instead, I will just say, thank you. Thank you, Glamour, because I am just right, damn it, when I do get on my soapbox about the use of the r-word.
Previous Posts about the R-word:
Anne Coulters Tweet- a Recap of Nigger, Fag, and Retard
Wayne Brade & Jim Roddey, Shame on You
March 7: A Day to End the Word
R-Word 'Rant
Stop Disability Slurs! The Change Up
Retarded. (a compelling video)
Ugly Retarded Baby Girl search term
Taking A Stand
Retards. A Letter Template
The R-word, The Descendants, and George Clooney
http://www.facebook.com/stopdisabilityslurs
That's a soapbox I climb on without hesitation!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy!
DeleteSaw this the other day and got so excited!! Can't stand when people use that word. I also can't stand when I nicely correct or ask someone not to use it and the person tries to argue with me about how it isn't offensive. If it wasn't offensive why would I take offense? Trying to educate family has surprisingly been harder than educating friends or strangers! I have so much to say about this; I feel a blog post coming up.
ReplyDeleteI hear you. I often get the "You know I didn't mean Ellie.". Well, then, what did you mean exactly? So many people are speaking out but most of those speaking out are in the special needs community. So to see a popular magazine that reaches the masses speaking out is huge!
DeleteBravo! I completely agree with you. (I also frequently do #6 and am planning to pull off #8 on Wednesday.)
ReplyDeleteI am in the middle of #10. . .no not ring! More along the lines of the job situation. How are you doing? I learn so much from your blog! Makes me want to travel but I Am worried about the coffee situation!
Deletethis is so GREAT! I think it hits a younger generation that is already sensitive to the word...but it reenforces it...I hear it more from the older generation or my generation...I am always offended and i cannot help it...I do feel the attack on my daughter...and I will not apologize for it...the rest of the list is definitely just a glamour list! this was fun! smiles
ReplyDeleteI think you hit the nail on the head! It is indeed hitting the younger generation which is good :)
DeleteAnd Damn it you are RIGHT! That word is so misused and the whole meaning of it has changed from something medical to derogatory and hurtful! I hear that word often too, and if you can believe it I have heard it come from the mouth of a mother (two different moms on two different occasions) who has a child with a disability!!!!! Both times I have been so shocked and taken aback that I said nothing.
ReplyDelete