Stop Using the Word "Retard"
Do yourself and the world a favor and stop using the "retard." Period. No questions. No excuses. Just stop. Stop calling your friends "retards" or saying that your parents are "retarded" for being old, senile idiots (you probably shouldn't call them "old
Here's a quick post to help the "Spread the Word to End the Word" Campaign (hat tip to my friend Jason Wert for bringing my attention to this):
Do yourself and the world a favor and stop using the word "retard."
Period.
No questions. No excuses. Just stop.
Stop calling your friends "retards" or saying that your parents are "retarded" for being old and out-of-touch.
Quick confession: I used to use the words "retard," "fag," and "Jew" in a pejorative sense to put down my friends on a regular basis. But it was "okay," because were "just joking." Right?
Until someone overheard us and was actually offended. Until real people were hurt.
Then, it became real.
Then, we were the idiots.
If this is you, you just need to stop using words like this. No judgment or shame. Just stop using them. It's okay, you didn't know. But now you do. So, stop.
Because when people hear you talk like this, they form an opinion about you that I don't think an educated, self-respecting person like you wants to be associated with.
No, it's not impossible. These words were a part of my everyday vocabulary once, and I stopped using them. They used to instinctively come to mind. Now, I don't even think about them. And when I hear, them, I shudder.
It wasn't easy, but it wasn't that hard, either.
The bottom line is this: If you look closely enough, people are following you. Someone is watching your every move. Maybe it's a friend or a sibling or even one of your followers on social media. Someone is seeing what you're about.
And when you open your mouth and words like "retard" come out, well, it makes you look dumb. And a bigot. And kind of a jerk.
That's not what you want to be remembered for, right?
Make a decision to stop today. Please. This word affects people in ways that hurt far worse that you can imagine. There are so many more beautiful and wonderful-sounding words that could come out of your mouth than that stupid R-word.
"From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." -James 3:10
Thanks, Jason, for bravely sharing your story of how the R-word has personally affected your family. I'm sorry for idiots like me who have caused you pain. I pray that those reading this will take note of the victims of their careless words and choose to change.
Time to 'fess up. Do you use the R-word? Would you make a pledge to stop?
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If you still aren't convinced, read some of these stories of heart-break and courage:
The R-Word
Awareness Starts with You