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Mar
31
Jen Nedeau wrote the post to top all posts at Change.org, It’s Time to Change Our Language, about this effort to eliminate the use of the R-word. You can read about the official event, Spread the Word to the End the Word, at the Special Olympics website.
What you need to know: It’s pretty powerful to see just how misused the r-word, aka “retarded,” is – see here on Twitter: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=+retard+OR+retarded
This event is a national day of awareness for America to stop and think about their use of the R-word.
Ways to participate:
Blog:
A post about your experience with the “R-Word” and how you feel about it or just share the info about the 3.31 event.
Facebook:
Attend the End the R-Word Day event and donate your status to end the R-Word such as:
Jill pledges to end the r-word today
Twitter:
- Tweet to spread the word to end the R-word, and use the #rword hashtag to show your support.
- Join the Tweetchat tomorrow at 4 – 5 PM EST. Use #rword to join!
- Follow our efforts at @EndTheWord (http://twitter.com/endtheword), where you can stay posted on the progress of our efforts to end the R-word.
- A sample tweet could be:
How often do you use the word retarded? It’s time to stop. Spread the word to end the word on 3.31 – http://www.r-word.org/. #rword”
Remember how Ohio 24th district state senator Bob Spada got some equally unacceptable terms dumped from the Ohio Constitution revised code in 2007? This is no different. There are millions of people with intellectual disabilities who find those words as well as the r-word as offensive and cruel as any other slur. That’s why I’m asking you to consider participating by taking part in one of the above actions.
Many thanks to Jen for putting so much of this effort together. Please help however you can.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 1:27 pm March 31st, 2009 in activism, Blogging, Civil Rights, Education, Ethics, intolerance, leadership, Media, Parenting, Social Issues, social media, Writing, Youth
Comments
9 Responses to “Spread the word to end the word – use of the R-word”
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Shalom Jill,
While the goal is noble, it is the wrong tack and a great waste of effort.
I’m reminded of the taunt leveled at the hero of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time:
B’shalom,
Jeff
The word does not mean stupid, btu the fact that you associate it with that meaning indicates something about you
http://whalertly.blogspot.com/2009/03/that-r-retarded-word.html
The word does not mean “stupid” but is commonly used that way by young people. As a teacher, we are constantly correcting kids for saying something is retarded or gay.
Shalom Jason,
I don’t remember the last time I heard retarded in a classroom, but correcting students on the use of gay seems to be a never ending battle.
B’shalom,
Jeff
for those who use the word gay like that, remind them that yes, the thing is indeed happy
http://whalertly.blogspot.com/2009/03/that-r-retarded-word.html
The term “mental retardation” is a diagnostic term designed to capture and standardize a group of disconnected categories of mental functioning such as “idiot”, “imbecile”, and “moron” derived from early IQ tests, which acquired pejorative connotations in popular discourse over time. The term “mental retardation” has itself now acquired some pejorative and shameful connotations over the last few decades due to the use of “retarded” as an insult. This may in turn have contributed to its replacement with expressions such as “mentally challenged” or “intellectual disability”.
Banning the use of a word is retarded. That’s sarcasm, like Collin Farrell character in Bruge saying he would appreciate Bruge if he was “a fat retard from the country”.
A damaged brain is a retarded brain, it being below standard, we know that many are below standard, at and also above the average standard in functioning ability.
Some say sexual intercourse and some say fuck, it is the same thing, perhaps people should consider the context of when they say what they say and why? Then again if they do not give a fuck they do not have to. I would say that banning words is fucking retarded, excuse my “liberté de parole, phénomène de commande how do you feel about the use of the word freak?
Shalom Oengus,
How accelerated of you.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Thanks for the conversing here, everyone.
Here’s an update. Highlights:
With help from the existing fan base of the Special Olympics, as well as strategic guidance and efforts by New Media Strategies, it is estimated that over 3.8 million people were reached by the R-word campaign on March 31st through social media efforts on Facebook, Blogs, Twitter and YouTube, as well as the pledge drive on R-Word.org.
* 3.8 million impressions
* 55,000 Facebook Users
* + 10,000 Pledges
* + 100 Blogs
* 1,200 Tweets
* 16,000 Video Views
There’s more at the link.
I suppose the word is in fact redundant and could be banned from all dictionaries. Theoretically? I never heard that word used in purposely directed malice, well actually I did it was two disabled adults that lived next door to me, years ago. Their confrontation resulted in name calling, “your retarded”, “no you are the retard”. It really escalated and lasted along time. Was it wrong for us to laugh about that? We tried not to.
Occasionally my roommate would revert to that day, saying “you know what the problems is don’t you”. “it’s that you are a retard!” Then it would escalate, the back and fourth….
The word means something or nothing, it’s the person willing to pull you out of the raging water that matters. Some exist behind a brick fortresses, they throw rocks at passerby’s, they are what they are, it’s not my job to address that.
Tell the child the word is bad and they will use it like a weapon. Is it hysterical or is it just me?