the 'r word'

If you know me at all you will know that I'm very passionate about children and people with exceptionalities.  You will also know that I absolutely cannot stand for these people with exceptionalities to be made fun of or talked about negatively.  So with that, the 'r word' or retarded absolutely drives me insane and I do not like for anyone around me to say it, ever.  I cannot think of one example where it would be okay.  One of my really good friends sent me this article on a blog that she came across, and I don't think that this woman could have said it any better.

Holmes, Phoebe. "Being Retarded." Herding Cats... 23 Dec 2011. Web. http://phoebeholmes.com/2011/12/23/being-retarded/. 18 Jan 2012.

Phoebe Holmes, the woman whose blog this post came from has a daughter named Maura that has special needs.  This blog post, with good reason is basically a rant on how Phoebe hates when people use the word retard(ed).  The main reason she doesn't like the word is because people use the word in place of saying something is stupid.  So, when people use the word retard(ed) they are indirectly calling her daughter and every other person with special needs stupid.  Phoebe says, "Yes she is slow to learn things. But she is not stupid."  

Overall, I really enjoyed this blog post, because we share the same beliefs.

My own experience:

I have a really good friend that is majoring in Elementary Education.  She uses the 'r word' very often.  The other night when we were hanging out she said it once and I asked her to please not say that.  She knows how I feel about the word.  Well, she said it again and I finally said, "You are not going to be able to say that when you become a teacher.  It is not polite, makes you sound ignorant, and is highly inappropriate."  She did not react well, but I am just looking out for her.

until next time.

happy learning.