Every one of us can join this effort. It’s as simple as changing the way we speak – http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/spread-the-word-to-end-the-word-1.1216786
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The Word That Really Hurt Me
Using the R-word harms the speaker as much as recipient http://ow.ly/1bz9c
More Schools Join “Spread the Word to End the Word” Day
High schools help ‘spread the word to end the word‘
Sussex Countian
Spread the Word to End the Word day will engage schools, organizations and communities by raising awareness about the negative impact of the slang word …
Special Olympics “End the Word Day’ March 31
Buffalo Reflex
The Star County Tigers Special Olympics and Skyline High School Student Council will host an End the Word Day on March 31. Spread the Word to End the Word …
Self-Advocacy Network urges SU community to “spread the word to end the word“
SU The Daily Orange
We, at the Self-Advocacy Network, are celebrating the “End the R-word Awareness Day” on campus again on Wednesday, March 3. If you would like to support …
Bozeman High students team up to fight
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle – Gail Schontzler
March 3 was chosen by the national Special Olympics organization as the second annual day to “Spread the word to end the word.” At Bozeman High, the date …
Youth set activities to “Spread the Word to End the Word”
Best Buddies call for an end to ‘R-word’
Quinnipiac Chronicle – Amy Maciejowski
Students will be making an effort to put an end to the use of the word “retard” through the Best Buddies organization on campus and Special Olympics event. …
Milton High School strives to end the use of ‘retarded”
Pensacola News Journal
Milton High School will have its second annual day of awareness to end the use of the word “retarded” on March 3. Spread the Word to End the Word is 4 to 6 …
Jersey City kids to rally against the ‘R-word‘ The Hudson Reporter
JERSEY CITY AND BEYOND — The Jersey City Public Schools and Special Olympics New Jersey will host a “Project Unify – Spread the Word to End the Word” rally …
March 3 is “Spread the Word to End the ‘r’ Word Day”
March 3 is “Spread the Word to End the ‘r’ Word Day”
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry has proclaimed March 3, 2010 as “Spread the Word to End the ‘r’ Word Day” in Oklahoma. Students across the state are invited to join in recognizing this day by taking the “My Words Matter Pledge”.
The “Spread the Word to End the ‘r’ Word Day” brings awareness that using the words “retard” or “retarded” to mean something stupid or bad is hurtful to people who have disabilities and the people who love them.
Not only does it perpetuate prejudice and discrimination towards people with disabilities, but simply because when its used in an ugly way this word is just as cruel and offensive as any other slur or hate speech.
My Words Matter Pledge by Jenna Glatzer © 2004
I pledge that I will not use the words “retard” or “retarded” to mean “stupid.” I understand that this is hurtful to people who have disabilities and people who love them, so I will be careful with my words.
I will also try to remember to pay attention when other people use these words, and I’ll ask them to stop.
Students may copy and use Glatzer’s pledge to start “Spread the Word to End the ‘r’ Word Day” Campaign’s in their own schools.
According to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau, 604,245 Oklahomans, 19.0% age 5 and over, have some form of disability. Approximately 50,000 people with developmental disabilities live in Oklahoma. This group is also the most inclusive and diverse, it includes; all ages, genders, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations and socioeconomic levels.
For more information on “Spread the Word to End the ‘r’ Word Day” or to find out more about this grass roots effort visit The “R” Word Campaign Website at: http://www.therword.org
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The case against banning the word “retard”
A scholar speaks…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/11/AR2010021103896.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
Again, the point is missed. This is not about political correctness, changing the English language or about contrived terminology such as “word fetish” for people who are offended by a slur. The real question is when does a word become a slur? Obviously the word ‘retard’ has legitimate use in the English language but the question is what goes through the mind of those who use it when they say, “that is SO ret—ed,” or “you ret—d!” Is the intent to imply someone or something is a slow moving John Deer tractor or a person with disabilites? What do you MEAN when you say that word? What mental picture is in your mind? Some have accused us of trying to ‘change’ the English language. The irony is we do not want the language changed. All we want is the language to be used correctly and not as some hateful slur. When you go to your mother’s house what words do you NOT use around her? Why? Do you hold your tongue because it offends your mother, or pastor. If so, maybe you need to think about the words you use and if they might affect someone around you. Its not about freedom of speech. It’s about respect…. respecting that another person, whether they have disabilities or a different color of skin, has the same right to be offended by hateful words the same as you.
Palin Condones ‘Satirical’ Use of r-Word
Satirical or not, Ms. Palin, this is not a political issue where its okay for one side to use it and the other side not. Using this word in any way as a slur is wrong and hurtful to people with disabilities, their families and their friends. It’s not about political correctness or politics, or freedom of speech, it’s about respect. You do a disservice to those individuals and families by not standing up for what is right. You have in fact just thrown this issue and those individuals and families under the bus for your own political aspirations by condoning the use of this slur as long as it’s satire.
We would ask you Ms. Palin, for your child’s sake, and for all of the other people out there who look up to you as a champion for those with disabilities to re-think this issue.
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Palin now excuses Limbaugh’s use of “retard”: “He was satirical in that” :
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201002070004
From Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/07/palin-considering-2012-ru_n_452602.html
On Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel, she said his comments calling liberal groups “f-ing retards” was “indecent and insensitive” and cause for his dismissal.
But the former governor went to great and sometimes awkward lengths to insist that when conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh used the same exact term to describe the same exact group, it was simply in the role of political humorist.
“They are kooks, so I agree with Rush Limbaugh,” she said, when read a quote of Limbaugh calling liberal groups “retards.” “Rush Limbaugh was using satire … . I didn’t hear Rush Limbaugh calling a group of people whom he did not agree with ‘f-ing retards,’ and we did know that Rahm Emanuel, as has been reported, did say that. There is a big difference there.”
Don’t say “mental retardation” — the new term is “intellectual disability.”
Major Updates Proposed for the ‘Bible of Psychiatry’
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,585362,00.html
Don’t say “mental retardation” — the new term is “intellectual disability.” No more diagnoses of Asperger’s syndrome — call it a mild version of autism instead.