End the "R" Word Campaign

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T549VoLca_Q&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

I feel that it's a very good campaign. I wish that it would have started years sooner.

im all in favor of respect for people but ending the use of the word ret*d would just open a pandora's box and the word chosen to substitute the r word would then become the next slur.unless you strictly made referance to a specfic disability like say trisomy 18 or downs.plus all the r word is is latin for slowed down

It's about respect. It was based on a diagnosis criteria and the usage is known to be used as insults toward individuals with cognitive impairment / differences.

Never liked the 'R' word, never liked any such terms, but I remember in particular when I was a child hearing the 'R' word used against others always made me cry. That term in particular always seemed so much crueller to me because half the time the word was used (even by adults, who should have known better) behind the backs of disabled people, like you had to be nice to their face but behind their backs they weren't given even the respect of being a fellow human being.

I do like Jane Lynch, loved the episode where Becky was introduced and it was relieved Sue's sister has down syndrome, I think that was done wonderfully and potentially did a lot of good to get rid of some prejudices...one can only hope.

I JUST READ THIS!

as i said its a pandoras box,the next word would be the next slur

Yes, the next word would be the next slur. So then we would need a campaign to end the use of that new word as an insult. And another campaign after that for the next word in line. And it would all be worth it. What a campaign like this does, even if it has to be repeated for multiple words, is implant the idea that insulting mental retardation (or whatever it would ultimately be called) is not ok.

To continue using it as an insult is not justified on the grounds that another word would take its' place. If you continue to use it, you are saying it is ok to use it. If you throw up your hands and say it's not worth trying to get people to stop using it because they'll start using something else, you are lazy. This is a fight that needs to be fought for as long as necessary. Giving up because it will be a long fight is lazy.

I absolutely agree. Not only is using the word as an insult disrespectful, it's also disrespectful to say that this campaign is not worth it because the fight will have to be re-fought over other words that come after it.

i never ever believe in using the r word as an insult and im insulted that my post was interprited that way.all im saying is that using the term mentaly ret*d as a sincere diagnosis is ok and that if you changed the diagnostic name that new name would be the next insult.when i was akid people still said mongloid and ret*d was concidered respectful.once you open a can of worms you cant close it

Oh goodness I'm sorry. I got angry because I thought you meant that you didn't want to give up "ret*d" as an insult, not as a diagnostic category.

This campaign isn't aimed at doctors, it's aimed at everybody who uses it as an insult. The campaign isn't an attempt to have "mentally ret*d" re-named as a diagnostic category (although "intellectual disability" is being used in some places). The medical community has actually been somewhat sensitive to this over time and has dropped "moron" and "idiot" as they became entrenched as insults. (And these days most people don't know they started out as diagnostic categories instead of insults.) They are slowly starting to use "intellectual disability" and "cognitive disability" but "mentally ret*d" is still in use. I think this campaign is aimed entirely at getting people to stop turning that diagnostic category into an insult.

I thought you were defending your right to use it as an insult, not doctors' rights to use it as a diagnosis. I'm sorry I got so angry with you.

i most definatley against using any insulting word toward anyone personaly,i thought this was for diagnostic terminalogy.sorry i misunderstood the post.actualy most of the people i went to school with were clasified as quote mentaly ret*d

The only issue I have with the word ret*d is when it is used incorrectly...but its just a word.

If someone calls you a ret*d, just don't bother, cause you're not ret*d!! !

It probably would be easier to to change the medical term to "intellectual disability", than to change the use of the word ret*d as a insult. It has just become so ingrained in our language nowadays. A tough fight all around.

Agreed.