Today I saw I post that caught my eye:
Change The Conversation - Stop Using The R-Word - from Maureen Hayes' blog "Being Chronically Ill Is A Pill"
It prompted me to drop what I was doing for Endometriosis Awareness Month to write this post. There was a moving interview with actor John C. McGinley speaking on the Bonnie Hunt Show.
YouTube video description:
Hear actor John C. McGinley talk about why the word 'retard' is so hurtful and why everyone should stop using it in everyday conversation. This is from an interview on the Bonnie Hunt Show on March 2, 2009.
Please check out the Special Olympics website and take the pledge, grab the badge and blog about this campaign. We can make a difference for the better! Please join me in this great effort.
This article was posted by Jeanne via "Jeanne's Endo Blog" at www.endendoat.blogspot.com.
10 comments:
Yes, Jeanne. Good post. My sister drive me nuts because she calls people "Rtards" all the time! We were walking in a department store the other day and she's like "you are and Rtard" and this lady glared at her. I didn't even comment back. I was so ashamed. Read a book and expand your vocab, please people.
Endochick,
I am so sorry that your sister embarrassed you with this language. My hope is that people will think before they speak. Words matter.
Jeanne
Gosh, I didn't think people still used that expression. How gauche.
And I want to put up that link but I need to figure out how to do it so it looks nice in a widget, so I don't have raw HTML showing. I'll probably need to ask a WOrdpress friend.
Yes, it is hurtful and so many people don't realize that it is not politically correct language and actually makes them sound very ignorant when they use it.
Jannie,
I'm so glad people are working to get people away from using hurtful language.
I'll have to ask around. I wonder if widgetbox would work? I have a widget for my whole blog in my sidebar that I made with that.
I can't remember exactly what could/couldn't be done with that since it was awhile ago but it's not just for Blogger and might work for a petition link?
I know. I didn't want the raw html link showing either so I just made the hyperlink say what I want it to say and plopped it on top of my blog so people will see it.
It's amazing how many recent signatures it has gotten. That's when it occurred to me that I should have asked others to post the link a long time ago!
Thanks Jannie!
Jeanne
Alicia,
I think some people get into the "habit" of using words like this and just don't really think about what they are saying and how it affects others to hear it.
Jeanne
This is a great video. I have a daughter with CP and I have heard kids say oh she is retarded. The word retarded used to be the word for special needs children. Now it is meant in a hurtful way. I just think that we have to accept people for who they are. We are all different in some way! Good for those kids for taking a stand! I am proud of them!
Becca
Please visit me at http://www.askbecca.com
Becca,
Thanks for stopping by! :) I just left a comment on your blog.
Thank you for your comments. People really do need to be more accepting of people for who they are. You're very right.
Yes, it's great how the kids took a stand, isn't it?? :)
Jeanne
Thank you Jeanne! I have a autistic nephew and I boils my blood when I hear people use the r-word. I read this and I dang near cried with relief that others feel that way too. THANK YOU and it's nice to see celebrities getting behind it to. That word, to me, is like a curse word. I tactfully confronted my SIL last year because they use that word in everyday language like we say hello. And she's a teacher! I told her that it was a horrible word and she needed to set a better example than that. At least she doesn't use it around my family anymore.
FranticMommy
FranticMommy,
Thanks for your comment! Isn't it a beautiful thing that the CHILDREN came up with this campaign? Just beautiful! It's an awful word. Good for you for speaking up to your SIL. Alarming that a teacher would speak this way!
Jeanne
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