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In today’s politically correct world, using the right word to describe minority groups is becoming increasingly important. No longer are black people described as ‘black’. No longer are gay people described as ‘faggots’. So why, then, is it deemed appropriate for disabled people to be called ‘retards’?
The latest Hollywood blockbuster ‘Tropic Thunder’, produced by movie studio Dreamworks, features an intellectually disabled character named Simple Jack, played by Ben Stiller. Throughout the film, he is repeatedly referred to as a retard. Dreamworks even had plans to develop a viral mini-movie starring Stiller’s character, with the tagline “There once was a retard”.
Now, I have never really had much of a problem with people using various words to describe someone with an impairment. Disabled, handicapped, spastic, whatever. I do, however, draw the line at ‘retard’. Timothy Shriver, chairman of American Special Olympics calls it “hate language”, and he’s not wrong. I think the use of language like that simply perpetuates the notion that disabled people are second-class citizens, and are good for nothing other than being mocked in the public eye.
What do you think? Am I making a big deal about nothing or is it about time we banned the use of the word, like New York City have banned the use of the word nigger? Leave a comment below!
6 responses so far ↓
1 Caz // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:04 am
No Red your not.
the word ‘Retard’ is old language and basically means unable to learn, here is one of the meanings from Dictionary.com.
4. Slang: Disparaging.
a. a mentally retarded person.
b. a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way: a hopeless social retard.
(I am referring to the letter b).
2 George // Aug 29, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I’m with you on this one!
As a guy with CP who was constantly being called a spaz by the other kids at school, while I think that most political correctness is just stupid. There are some things that are just plain offensive.
Its okay for a black guy to call another black guy nigger, a spaz like me to use when referring to myself and (even if they want) people with a learning disability to refer to each other as retards.
But this is not!
Why? because its meant as a term of abuse.
If my friends with a disability call me a spaz, its often an expression of affection, common identity, dare I say? Brotherhood?
Anybody else says it, I’ll smack ‘em in the mouth!
3 Philip // Aug 29, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Guess you’ll be burning your RETRAD T-shirt, bro? ;-P
4 Oh snap! // Aug 29, 2008 at 5:55 pm
[…] Login ← Is the word ‘retard’ up there with ‘nigger’? […]
5 Caz // Sep 1, 2008 at 10:11 am
Yes I agree with George, my friend Jess and I (she’s a total blindie) find it funny when we say “Hey look the blind leading the Blind” but if a sighted person says it, we want to smash their heads in.
Spastic is used when the Cerebral Palsy is severe but you should never call someone a Spas.
6 Sacha // Sep 2, 2008 at 2:31 am
Had to laugh - tried to make this point on one of the Stuff website’s forums and got deleted. Presumably for making the comparison with the more obviously offensive N word. Plonkers.
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