Want to know my biggest pet peeve in the world?
It's something that people do more and more these days.
...and I can't stand it!
What is the "R-word," you ask?
My biggest pet peeve is...
when someone using the "R-word" to make fun of someone or something.
What is the "R-word," you ask?
It's RETARD or RETARDED.
Ugh! It annoys me just typing it!
What do you think? Want to help me spread the word to eliminate the "R-word"?
Ugh! It annoys me just typing it!
Once upon a time, the word, Retarded, was used to label someone who was intellectually "delayed," or "slow." After all in music the word, "retard," means to slow down.
Anywho - Somewhere along the way, it became a joke. For some reason people now think it's absolutely hilarious to call someone or something that name.
I know what you're thinking... What's the big deal? I'm not being mean. I'm just having fun.
THE BIG DEAL???
Anywho - Somewhere along the way, it became a joke. For some reason people now think it's absolutely hilarious to call someone or something that name.
I know what you're thinking... What's the big deal? I'm not being mean. I'm just having fun.
THE BIG DEAL???
The big deal is that while you're "having fun," you're doing so at the expense of others. The "R-word" is exclusive, offensive, and derogatory.
According to R-word.org, "The word retard(ed) hurts millions of people with intellectual disabilities and their families."
John Franklin Stephens, a Special Olympics athlete from Virginia, responded to people's wonder over what was wrong with using the "R-word," by saying, "So what's wrong with 'retard'? I can only tell you what it means to me and people like me when we hear it. It means that the rest of you are excluding us from your group. We are something that is not like you and something that none of you would ever want to be. We are something outside the 'in' group. We are someone that is not your kind. "When asked his thoughts on this topic, Tim Shriver, CEO of Special Olympics said, "Words matter. People don't need to scoff at others to make a point. Everyone has a gift and the world would be better off if we recognized it."
Jeff Goins, an author and blogger, wrote, "If you look closely enough, people are following you. Someone is watching your every move. Maybe it's a friend or a sibling or even one of your followers on social media. Someone is seeing what you're about. And when you open your mouth and words like 'retard' come out, well, it makes you look dumb. And like a bigot. And kind of a jerk. That's not what you want to be remembered for, right?"
I was reading a post on the Double Dose of Special blog, and came across this gem of a quote... The author said, "When confronted, people will often say, 'but I didn't mean...' and while that may be true, the bottom line is that the r-word is never used to describe something or someone in a positive way. Retard(ed) is never a complement."
According to R-word.org, "The word retard(ed) hurts millions of people with intellectual disabilities and their families."
John Franklin Stephens, a Special Olympics athlete from Virginia, responded to people's wonder over what was wrong with using the "R-word," by saying, "So what's wrong with 'retard'? I can only tell you what it means to me and people like me when we hear it. It means that the rest of you are excluding us from your group. We are something that is not like you and something that none of you would ever want to be. We are something outside the 'in' group. We are someone that is not your kind. "When asked his thoughts on this topic, Tim Shriver, CEO of Special Olympics said, "Words matter. People don't need to scoff at others to make a point. Everyone has a gift and the world would be better off if we recognized it."
Jeff Goins, an author and blogger, wrote, "If you look closely enough, people are following you. Someone is watching your every move. Maybe it's a friend or a sibling or even one of your followers on social media. Someone is seeing what you're about. And when you open your mouth and words like 'retard' come out, well, it makes you look dumb. And like a bigot. And kind of a jerk. That's not what you want to be remembered for, right?"
I was reading a post on the Double Dose of Special blog, and came across this gem of a quote... The author said, "When confronted, people will often say, 'but I didn't mean...' and while that may be true, the bottom line is that the r-word is never used to describe something or someone in a positive way. Retard(ed) is never a complement."
So next time you think about saying the "R-word," pick a new word instead. Or better yet... Just say something nice instead.
What do you think? Want to help me spread the word to eliminate the "R-word"?
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