Today: Spread the Word To End The Word

Today is a national day of campaigning to eliminate the use of the word "retarded" and its derivations as an epithet.  I took the pledge to eliminate the r-word from my vocabulary a few years ago.  I hope you will too.

New to me this year is The R-Word Reporter

The reason I started The R-Word Reporter was because we attend a lot of movies and I was tired of hearing the R-word ("retarded" for those who do not know) used consistently in many of the movies we were paying money to go and see.  I searched high and low on the internet for a place to try and find out whether or not the R-word was used and in which films. Unfortunately, I never found such a place and decided that it would be nice to have a place where I could compile this type of information for our family and for others who are also offended by the casual use of the R-word in pop culture.

You can follow @EndTheWord on twitter. If you like the badge, go to http://www.r-word.org/r-word-resources.aspx and pick your preferred badge.

I commend to you now the word,  numpty

Scottish usage: 
a) Someone who (sometimes unwittingly) by speech or action demonstrates a lack of knowledge or misconception of a particular subject or situation to the amusement of others. 

b) A good humoured admonition, a term of endearment 

c) A reckless, absent minded or unwise person

Comments

[Dr_som]

I'm not sure we should give one word such power. The problem is not the word but society's interpretation of the meaning and their misuse of the word. The problem is a lesser standard of care and education and respect awarded to those labeled "retarded." For families struggling to understand the overall prognosis for various genetic conditions: retarded can be less confusing than cognitive disability. I've often wondered how folks embrace the word autism but cringe at mentally retarded. Actions speak louder than words. How we treat retarded people is far more important than what we call them.

[Janetta]

Dr som, I agree that actions speak louder than words, but words do matter. Try telling a person from a minority group that how we treat them is more important than the names we call them. Try comforting a child that just had their self-image shattered because they were called any assortment of derogatory terms that the words don't matter. You are right, we shouldn't give words such great power, but the reality is that often words frame and influence our actions towards one another.