Oregon Public Broadcasting

1st congressional district 2012 election 2012 session agriculture art arts author beer births books budget business central oregon college congress crime culture death penalty eastern oregon economy education employment energy environment eugene fishing food gangs gay rights health health care high school history homeless housing jobs law legislature literature living media mental health military movies music native americans obama occupy portland occupy wall street onthejob oregon our town outdoors parenting police politics portland portland business journal portland mayor pregnancy prison public health race rebroadcast recess recession religion republicans rural schools science shooting sports supreme court talking business technology teen theater unemployment union university of oregon washington water weekend women youth

The word “retarded” has become a very, very common slang term.  The word seems to have lost a lot of its original meaning, and is used casually by people who would never think of using derogatory terms referring to a person’s race or sexual orientation.  And it’s not just kids-- recently, it was revealed that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel used the term “F---ing Retards” during a meeting.  See: http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2010/01/27/shriver-to-emanuel-27340/

As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, this word is offensive to me in the same way that the “N” word is offensive to most people today. But I hear it all the time, at least once a week, even at work.

It surprises me that there is debate about this, but there is-- very heated debate.  Many people object to being told the word is offensive. They argue that we have become too thin-skinned or "politically correct", that complaining about it constitutes censorship, or that the word has lost its original meaning and so no one should be offended.   But I and many others believe that words DO matter- that the way we talk about people has a direct influence on how they are treated. 

I’m sure you’d be able to get many local families interested in joining in the discussion on the show.  Thanks so much for your consideration!

posted 2 years, 3 months ago
view in context