Tuesday, March 31, 2009
“Stop shooting three’s, you retard!” I heard this comment during Saturday’s game directed toward Markieff Morris. Now, sporting events often foster profanities but this one I hear frequently, and I despise it. Although it is similar to any ethnic slur or defamatory language, “retard” has become socially acceptable. This word propagates the stereotype that people with intellectual disabilities don’t have a place in our society. It’s hateful.
Today is Spread the Word to End the Word Day, a day to bring about awareness and discussion of the R-word. It’s not political correctness we desire. We don’t want to replace “retarded” with “intellectually disabled”; we want people to quit associating poor acts with this group of people altogether.
Many brush off this movement, saying, “It’s just a word”; “It’s my right to say whatever I want.” To that I respond, “You’re correct.” We don’t want to ban or mandate anything. We’re raising social awareness. You can also say the N-word but most of us would prefer that you didn’t.
The R-word hurts 200 million people worldwide with intellectual disabilities, not including family and friends, like me. When you use that word, probably unintentionally, you insult some of my dearest friends. And they won’t fight back. My friends never hate; they only give joy, acceptance, and friendship. Putting down this demographic only demonstrates the weakness and insecurity of the aggressor. Why would you make fun of a person who only wants to give love? Maybe you didn’t know it hurt, but now you do. So, please, don’t use the R-word.
— — Clint Armistead is a sophomore from Overland Park.
Dirty little six-letter word
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Comments
Letter: Today is the day to end the R-word
Gray, that's retarded.
Letter: Today is the day to end the R-word
Whatever. It's not a nice word, but yelling it at Morris on the basketball court and yelling it someone with an intellectual disability is an example of two different applications. Words tend to be like that. They are sneaky that way.
Letter: Today is the day to end the R-word
Way to take an Associated Press's article and completely turn it around as your own Clint. Sure you put your own personal experience as the beginning paragraph and then rip the rest of it off.
That's plagiarism you know... retard.
Letter: Today is the day to end the R-word
Right, you get mad at someone and yell, retard. Most people do it. Teaching those who are "special" how to deal with the real world instead of expecting it to change would be more helpful.
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