“The R Word”
Is it Offensive or Are We Too Defensive?
By: Masi Beam
According to the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, the definition of the word “retard” is “to slow up, especially by preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment: IMPEDE.” Many people, ranging from children to adults, use this word with no sense of remorse. They use this word as if the meaning were “to be unfair” or “to be stupid”. Little do these people know, when other people who haves someone in their lives who is mentally disabled, they think of them every time someone misuses this word. Is America uneducated? Or are they just unrepentant?
Not only is the word completely misused, it is grammatically incorrect. Maybe America is just uneducated, considering they obviously don’t understand its true meaning. I, personally, questioned others on using this word. The responses I have gotten are usually similar. “I didn’t mean it like that.” If this is true, why don’t we amend our vocabulary? If the word is offensive and grammatically incorrect, why don’t we use another word? Maybe it’s because people find it a joke. Or maybe it is because many people have not been exposed to the pain and hurt mental retardation can cause. It is a very discriminating and prejudice slur to those who know what it really means.
Over 50 million people in the United States are affected by disabilities, according to Patricia Bauer in “Banish the Word Retard”. Experts say the lives of even more Americans will be affected by disabilities in the near future. Disabilities can range from moderate to severe. No matter how disabled a person is, they, and their family members, will take it seriously and offensively. According to Paul Moran in “Is the Slang Use of the Word “Retard” or “Retarded” Discriminatory?” about 25% of teenagers do not really understand what the word means. This could be the root of the problem.
There are many ways we can fix this problem that is occurring in today’s society. We can encourage the use of other words, such as: that’s a burden, that’s unfair, that’s stupid, that’s uncalled for, that’s not necessary, etc. We can also try to teach others what mental retardation is, and the effects it has on other people. We want to stop the abuse of the word “retard” and realize how damaging it can be.
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