More on the R-Word: Rahm Emanuel, Sarah Palin, and Rush Limbaugh

posted on Feb 16 by Stacy in the Advocacy, Disability News, Opinion and Discussion category

When Rahm Emanuel made the mistake of calling liberal activists “[expletive] retarded,” Sarah Palin jumped in and demanded his firing.  Rush Limbaugh took the low road and said that he found nothing wrong with “calling a bunch people who are retards, retards.”  Palin came to his defense saying that the word was used satirically.  Comedian Stephen Colbert then took it a step further and called Palin an “[expletive] retard” and then added (with a smile) “You see? It’s satire!”
The question now at hand is whether or not we should eliminate the word “Retard” from everyday conversation.  The Special Olympics is spearheading a campaign to end its use, and is promoting a national awareness day on March 3.  Those who back this campaign sign a promise that says “I pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.”Â�
Interestingly enough the term “mentally retarded’ was first introduced by the medical establishment in the 20th century to replace other terms that were deemed to be offensive. It was felt that “mentally retarded” would convey more dignity and respect. “Intellectual Disability” has now replaced “mentally retarded” for the same reasons.

The problem with trying to police language is that some terms are meant from their inception to be rude and insulting.  (I won’t repeat them here, but you can imagine them.)  Others, however, degrade over time because the words become associated with a condition or race or orientation that is viewed in a negative light, no matter how well-meaning polite people are.  So we keep changing terms.  �
The “R” word:  It’s used as an insult, and activist groups want to remove it from people’s vocabularies.  The problem isn’t with the word, it’s with the reality behind the word, which is that there are now, and always will be, people who have mental disabilities.
Good human beings, would not insult intellectuallly disabled people to their faces, nor would they use whatever label happens to be applied to those people as an insult to others.  For example, whether someone is described as having “Down syndrome;” “intellectual disabilities” (today’s PC generic term); being a “mongoloid” (that was the old polite term in the 50′s); or being “mentally retarded” (another generic term for all mentally disabled people in the 50′s)… I would never use any one of those terms as an insult.

It’s absolutely true that vocabulary can affect thought.    It’s also true, though, that there are some prejudices that linger inside people that are resistant to mere language changes.

Earlier coverage: http://www.amsvans.com/blog/576-rahm-emanuel-apologizes-for-using-insulting-language/