misformazing:
Okay guys, I understand when you get frustrated you tend to use slang or derogatory words to try and get your point across… but it makes you look rude and all I can do is think less of you.
Calling someone a ‘retard’ is ableist as fuck and ridiculously oppressive. It’s incredibly discriminatory and makes me feel ill whenever I see people that I follow post comments like that.
You hesitate to joke about rape, you question whether or not you’re racist but you don’t ever stop and think about if you’re being ableist because you don’t think what you’re saying is offensive.
Let me bring to your attention that you don’t know everyone you follow or that follows you. You don’t know if they have family members that have disabilities (physical or mental). You think that it’s okay because everyone says ‘retarded’ and you’re just joking. It’s all fun and games until you actually offend someone. Just stop — or at least know that what you’re saying is bigoted and incorrect.
When I was little I had the pleasure of growing up with my brother, Matty, who was mentally challenged. We were really close and it opened my eyes up to the world of insensitive people early on. I was always bullied for being big but that was nothing compared to how my older brother was bullied. He would encounter ableist slurs left and right at school. They would beat him up ‘just because’. It was hell for him.
He would try to make friends and be sweet… suggest playing HORSE with the basketball, talking off everybody’s ear… because he looked at the world in an innocent way. He didn’t realize that the children he wanted to be friends with were never taught acceptance or compassion. They were taught that if someone else is different then they are weak and should be a target of ridicule.
The school bus was the worst. It’s like a cage of festering, ignorant children and the only adult is the school bus driver who has to focus on driving safely; aka not a lot of help to stop a fight. That was why I was so upset about that 12 year old girl not being able to use ASL… the only way she can communicate with her FRIENDS. A distraction from the other bullies on the bus.
Unfortunately I didn’t have much time with my brother. He passed away when he was 14 years old, one week from my ninth birthday. It’s been 15 years this year since he’s been gone. He has been an inspiration for my life and I feel that if I didn’t have him as an example of how I should be treating others then I might be like every other person thinking it’s okay to use terms like ‘retard’ on an everyday occurrence.
It’s not hard to take it out of your vocabulary… I promise! Just be aware of what you’re saying on a public forum and don’t be afraid to apologize. It’s not that hard. <3
TL;DR? Be careful what you say on Tumblr because you never know if you’re going to upset someone.
Spread the word to end the word; http://www.r-word.org/
(via kayleemb)