VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. – The “R” word should stand for respect.

A campaign to “Disable the Label” filled the Vadnais Heights Sports Center Wednesday evening. People living with varying disabilities spread the message that the “R” word not only hurts, but is also degrading.

“Excuse my bluntness, but it’s like a verbal assassination of a person’s character,” said Hunter Sargent who wrote and performed his “Disable the Label” rap.

Follow this link for the rest of the story and video:

http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/2014/05/22/fill-the-heart-campaign/9407311/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/pdf/disabilityposter_photos.pdf

A panel of parents, teachers and school officials voted unanimously this week to keep a book that uses the word “retarded” in the libraries of nine schools in a Minnesota district.

For the rest of the story follow this link on Disability Scoop:

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/05/16/r-word-complaint-libraries/19370/

Why Ending the R-Word Isn’t Enough
Spread the attitude to change the attitude
by Amy Julia Becker

I fully support the “spread the word to end the word” campaign. But we need to take it farther than that. We need to “spread the attitude to end the attitude.”

Read More…

Quit Using The Word “Retarded” In Three Easy Steps
New Years Resolution Tips from Tim Villegas

Are you a frequent “R-word” abuser? Do you know it’s wrong to say but just can’t quit? Follow these three easy steps and you will be on your way to freedom from using outdated and offensive vernacular!

Perhaps you have come here for help. You realize that you have been using the word “retarded” indiscriminately for years now and it is so ingrained in your psyche that you just can’t stop. Here are three easy steps to make your life (and the lives of others around you) a little bit better.

– See more at: http://www.thinkinclusive.us/quit-using-the-word-retarded-in-three-easy-steps/

This Website was started with the idea of encouraging those who were offended by the use of the ‘r’ word to speak up.  After 6 years we are still encouraging you to do that.  You have the power to make a difference simply by making your opinion known.  Here is an example:

Coca-Cola Apologizes for Vitamin Water Bottle Cap That Read ‘YOU RETARD’

Doug Loates, who fired off a lengthy (and tremendously poignant) letter to Coca-Cola demanding an explanation. He described how “the R-word is considered a swear word in our family,” primarily because it’s a slur that some might use against his 11-year-old daughter, Fiona, whose cerebral palsy has caused cognitive delays and requires that she use a feeding tube.

“What would YOU do if you opened up your bottle of Vitamin Water and on the bottom of the lid it read, ‘YOU RETARD?’ ” he wrote to Coke’s board of directors. “I bet you’d be pissed if you had a Fiona in your life!”

Read the rest of the story and see Mr. Loates’ letter:

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/coca-cola-apologizes-vitaminwater-bottle-cap-read-you-retard-152548

I’m not saying it breaks me. I’m not saying I hate the person. I’m certainly not giving the individual power over my happiness. But I am asking you to consider not using the R-word.

Read the rest of the story:
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/415175/group/Life/

Bun B is lending his influence to the movement to end use of the words “retard” and “retarded” to describe people or actions that are stupid or senseless.

Read more: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Port-Arthur-rapper-wants-you-to-stop-using-the-4546927.php#ixzz2UG8fr9bw

Portmanteau words are those words that are the result of combining two words together to make a new word.  For instance the word ‘sitcom’ is the combination of ‘situational’ and ‘comedy’.

However, if you take an insult or slur and combine it with another word you still have an insult or slur.   Hate speech is the same no matter how you arrange the letters.  If your intent is to be insulting, cool or even funny and you use a slur to do it, it is still perpetuating hate.

When you take the ‘r’ Word and drop the ‘re’ from it and put it with another word such as ‘beiber’ (beib-t**d)  or ‘liberal’ (lib-ta**d) you are still using the ‘r’ Word.

What it boils down to is your words matter, whether is one slur or a slur combined with another word to make it funny or even to dilute it so “It’s not THAT word!”

Hate is still hate no matter how you try to mask it.

And in the end, it’s still just a simple matter of respect.