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Ending the R-Word by ~RobinClone:iconRobinClone:

Categories deviantART Related > Deviant Stamps

©2009 ~RobinClone
:iconrobinclone:

Artist's Comments

My watchers probably know by now how much I admire John C. McGinley. He deserves full credit for opening my eyes on this particular subject, as I found out, upon reading/watching many interviews with him, that he has a son named Max who has Down Syndrome.

[link] [link] [link]

I honestly can't remember when I started describing things as "retarded" because when I did, I was extremely young. I'm sure most people can relate to this, but that word has been embedded, for one reason or another, into our vocabulary before we even knew what it meant.

But we're older now and should know better. Truth is, the majority of those who say it don't mean it in a malicious way at all. I know I never did. But knowing now what it does and how much it really hurts those with a mental handicap, I think it's safe to say that it's a good habit to break.

I know this is oddly serious for me, but I find myself really passionate about this topic. Besides being a writer, I'm also going to school this up-coming fall semester to major in special education.

Anyway, this stamp is not meant to be a judgment or an accusation. I am not calling you a horrible person if you've said this word before. I have. But I'm proud to say that I honestly can't remember the last time I used it. The R-Word is like a racial slur to those with a mental handicap. It hurts a lot, and it's really an easy sacrifice to make: To take just two seconds to think about something before saying it. Trust me - maybe it's not an over night thing, but you will kick the habit soon enough.

P.S. - If you feel the need to leave comments on this saying something along the lines of, "This is so retarded!" then please know before hand that they will be deleted and/or ignored.

[EDIT]

I forgot to mention this originally, but National End the R-Word day is March 31st. Thanks for reminding me! :)

Comments


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:iconji-chan3:
~Ji-chan3 May 27, 2009, 6:37:22 PM
I say it without even realizing it most of the time. It's one of those words that I can't even remember when or where it originated. (Sorta reminds me how people using the term "gay" to mean "stupid" bothers some gay people. Doesn't bother me, though.)

--
:heart: JEH = awesome :heart:
:iconrobinclone:
~RobinClone May 27, 2009, 7:37:21 PM
Yes, I mentioned in my author's note that the majority of those who say it don't mean it in a malicious way and don't even realize it, which I can relate to because I used to say it too.

I used to describe things as "gay" too, but because I do have friends who are gay and who would take offense to that, I stopped. And while describing something as gay might not offend you personally, I'm sure if someone said the f-word in your presence (not f*ck - you know what I'm talking about) you'd take offence. And that's what I'm saying in terms of the R-word: it's like a racial slur to people with a mental handicap.

--
“You can’t tell other people how to feel, you just can’t. Someone will cry; that’s fine. Others may choose to laugh, and guess what? That’s okay too. Plus, you don’t know what’s going on inside people’s heads.”
-Dr. Cox-
:iconwolther:
~wolther May 28, 2009, 1:54:40 AM
i'm the same unfortunately
i often describe things as "retarded"
i think its actuallty a language imprint for society these days :/
especially where i live.... dmanit

but in all fairness, its because of people like you, i stopped calling things "gay". My friend Ben (*who i believe is either Bi or Gay himself, but im not sure) actualy forwarded this point to me about two years ago (as well as my whole class).
now yet again, it was a language imprint for us in dagenham (and im sure alot of other places).But becauyse i know gay poeople, who i hang out with on a daily basis, and they found it offensive, i stopped.
i think i remember saying gay in an offensive (or...well you know, not offensive but different meaning) about 3-5 times in the past three years or so?
i'm sure i can manage this one ^^

thank you for this, really :)

--
Torchwood - its not all about the sex; thats just on the side

Loud and proud supporter of Janto and Towen.:heart:

Play Animal Crossing? Like Cosplay? Note me for my friend code! I need to meet more cool people =)
:iconkyokochuu12:
Mood: Affection ~KyokoChuu12 May 28, 2009, 9:02:35 AM
I seriously love you for this. Really, I do.

I watched that interview and he was so passionate about it, but he's right. I've been wanting to stop saying 'gay' and 'retarded' for like ever now. My cousin who I don't ever see now taught me that word back in the fifth grade and she said it meant stupid, but I never meant anything by it when I picked it up, same with 'gay', my brother uses it a lot and probably won't stop.

We have a kid in our school with Down Syndrome and everyone's mean to her and they call her stupid and retarded and are cruel to her (and in general...)...overall she's really nice but she has kind of the mouth (probably not her fault) and she is sometimes rude, but I'm sure she can't help it. People need to stop being so cruel. D: In my school it won't change, but I can always dream. *-*;;

*PS - You should have mentioned that the national End the R-Word Day is March 31. :P

--
-- i h e a r t g e n k a i [[ 愛してる幻海 ]]　--

Dr. Cox: They hate you, Bob. They hate you from the bottom of your hooves to the top of your pitchfork. They hate you, dear God, they hate you good.
:iconreddartfrog:
=reddartfrog May 28, 2009, 4:02:44 PM
Good for you!

--
"Give Peace a Chance". - John Lennon
:iconji-chan3:
~Ji-chan3 May 28, 2009, 5:30:43 PM
It's probably just the lack of inflection, but you seem pretty defensive here. I was agreeing with you, man. And I didn't mean because I don't take offense to people saying "gay" that I think it's weird or stupid for others to take offense.

--
:heart: JEH = awesome :heart:
Hidden by Owner
:iconrobinclone:
~RobinClone May 28, 2009, 6:48:38 PM
Thanks! And thanks for the :+fav: as well. :)

--
“You can’t tell other people how to feel, you just can’t. Someone will cry; that’s fine. Others may choose to laugh, and guess what? That’s okay too. Plus, you don’t know what’s going on inside people’s heads.”
-Dr. Cox-
:iconrobinclone:
~RobinClone May 28, 2009, 6:54:09 PM
Thank you so much. :heart:

And yeah, the person who taught me that, though I can barely remember, to be honest, told me it just meant stupid. I had no idea at the time. To be honest, he probably didn't either, since he was rather young himself. It's a shame that someone, most likely older than him, taught him that that's what it meant though, seeing as there's a huge difference between being born with a mental handicap and stupidity.

And it's really sad to hear there are kids who do that. I mean, I'm not completely naive. I know that kind of cruelty exists, it just sucks so much to hear. And you're right - even if someone with DS is rude, it's never intentional behavior. Hopefully those kids will knock it off.

And yeah, I should have! I completely forgot to give the actual date. Thank you for reminding me! :hug:

--
“You can’t tell other people how to feel, you just can’t. Someone will cry; that’s fine. Others may choose to laugh, and guess what? That’s okay too. Plus, you don’t know what’s going on inside people’s heads.”
-Dr. Cox-
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