I Need To Weigh In On The Whole “Retarded” Controversy.
Written by Mockarena // February 4, 2010 // Weeps And Glees // 38 Comments
You guys probably read Daisy’s post the other day about Rahm Emanuel calling some folks “f***in’ retarded,” and the firestorm that resulted. It’s been big news. Sarah Palin is furious and wants him fired, all kinds of disabled people showed up at the White House to talk about it, Rahm then apologized to the CEO of the Special Olympics – it’s basically been a non-stop flurry of activity. It’s probably not anywhere close to being over. There will likely be more apologies and more analysis and more outrage.
And frankly, you guys, at the risk of alienating readers and creating a smaller version of a firestorm right here at COTR, I think this whole matter is completely retarded.
Yeah, I said it.
I feel I’m uniquely positioned to comment on this issue, since as you may know if you’re a reader of The Mock Dock, my eldest son is severely mentally retarded. I don’t bother with saying words like “intellectually challenged” or “mentally disabled” or whatever the politically correct words are nowadays. Junior Mock has cerebral palsy, and not only is he a quadriplegic, he’s also mentally retarded. Fact.
Now, far be it for me to DEFEND a liberal leftist moron like Rahm Emanuel (wait – can I still say “moron?”), but the fact that I AM should assure you folks on the left that I’m dead serious about this. Rahm is despicable in many many ways, but frankly, I don’t believe he meant any disrespect to Actual Mentally Retarded People when he made his comment. Do a search on “retarded” at The Mock Dock, and you’ll find me using that word to refer to everything from hot pink thigh-high boots, to Heidi Montag to ugly sunglasses. It’s a word that has been colloquialized, for better or for worse. And it’s the same with the word “gay.” There’s this all-out campaign to remove the slang use of those words from the American vernacular, and what I want to know is, WHAT IS THE BIG FREAKING DEAL? Can we all just lighten up already?
My sister informed me today, when we were discussing this, that it’s bad to say, “Let’s just call a spade a spade” because apparently “spade” is now a derogatory term to describe a black person. SERIOUSLY??? I didn’t even KNOW that. Have we really gotten to the point where we’re all going to have to start carrying around a pocket handbook which lists all the words that could potentially offend someone? Because I can’t keep up with this nonsense.
I get that Sarah Palin is a relatively new mom to a child with Down’s Syndrome, and so she felt like perhaps she ought to speak out against Rahm on this issue. But it just seems to me that there are bigger fish to fry. I mean, on the Pressing Issue List for our nation, possibly offending someone who’s overly sensitive to the word “retarded” seems kinda low on the totem pole (no offense to any American Indians out there).
I’m just sick of political correctness, you guys. SICK of it. That doesn’t mean I’m going to run out and start saying the n-word or the c-word or any of those other truly offensively vulgar words. But let’s call a spade a spade. This whole “I’m offended therefore I am” crap has gotten out of control. And when you start needing more than a 1/2 sheet of paper to list out words that are offensive to the general public, there’s a problem.
/End Rant.
38 Comments on "I Need To Weigh In On The Whole “Retarded” Controversy."
Well said! I know, I’m in deep sh_t now too for agreeing with you, but at least I’m in good company!
Have a great evening!
Totally respect your take, Mock. Ultimately, I agree with you.
However, doesn’t it seem like a guy in his position should be smart enough not to walk over to Pandora’s Box and flip open the lid? To wit, I refer you to the aforementioned firestorm.
Maybe they could change the dictionary meaning….Like in this example of the word FAG…
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/254822
Michael
When people want to be offended, they will find offense in pretty much anything. Seems like the whole nation is populated by nincompoops seeking to be slighted and put upon.
Yes, MD – he SHOULD be smart enough to realize that in this age of Political Correctness, anything he says will be scrutinized. It’s unfortunate, but true. But Rahm Emanuel is clearly too retarded to have thought of that.
Let’s nip in the bud this whole silly stuff. Wait, may I use “nip” in this politically correct company?
I heard someone say once “in America, you have no right to be offended” and I believe it. If you value your freedom of speech and your right to say whatever the frick you want, whenever you want, you have no right to be offended when someone else exercises their same right.
That being said, Rahm Emanuel is a ra-tard (just for you Mock)
Geez, it’s just a little push back to that pen*s head Rahm, that’s all this is about. I’m involved with Camp Shriver where the relatives and camp counselors have been known to say the word, “tards”, totally without malice.
I think that Rahm’s position dictates that he should conduct himself better than this. Although he was just taking his cues from Obama.
genetics73 said “nip.” Tee hee…
Listen, I agree with majordawg. While I have used the word retarded to describe things I thought were stupid, I do think that someone in his position MAYBE should’ve used ANOTHER word – and perhaps not called a collective group of people “f*cking retarded.” My REAL point of the post was to show that the liberal left – the group of people who have basically INVENTED political correctness – are the ones who have the most problems with adhering to their own retarded rules. They constantly feel as though they get to pick and choose who’s offended – the hypocrisy annoys the crap out of me.
And that’s all I got to say about that.
well said, ‘only have one thing to say to people who are easily offended or at least pretend to be for one reason or another; In the words of one of the world’s greatest bands “Eagles” hit song “Get Over It”.;-)
Totally totally agree, Daisy. I wasn’t ripping on your post – I was ripping on the media frenzy (from Palin and others) about it.
You’re effin’ developmentally disabled.
I was taught we make impression 3 ways…by the way we look, the way we speak, and the way we act. The impression Mr. Emmanuel gave us is a reflection of who he truly is. Wow…what a statement on his (lack of) character. What a great example for teachers to use in teaching students how not to respond to others, how not to act out in public.
I’m with you Mock. This whole thing is Rahm-tarded
Awesome! I totally agree. Nothing like the voice of experience who CAN and DOES speak with personal experience and authority putting the period on the end of that sentence!
Well I think any excuse to get rid of a member of this administration is a good one and bonus points if they can look retarded while going so.
Well said. I totally agree.
People need to stop being offended by every little thing.
Life’s tough, get a helmet.
I’m not a fan of the word at all. I’d go so far as to say I hate it and don’t use it in slang. Although I do understand that people generally don’t use it to be hurtful, it’s just a button of mine that I don’t like pressed. We all have our pet peeves. You might get thoroughly pissed when someone cuts you off in traffic or in the supermarket.
Being in a position of high visibility, people should know better. They don’t go up and make speeches and smack their gum because it’s tacky. Just like saying certain things that can be taken out of context and highly offensive to a large portion of the population. You accept a certain level of responsibility when you choose a job that is in the public eye and need to act accordingly. Although I don’t think he needs to be fired over it.
Daisy said my thoughts EXACTLY! But Mock also did as well. I am sick to death of the “I am offended therefore I am”, however I can understand why parents of the ‘retarded’ get peeved. For years these people were shunned, stigmatized, and received no education and very little medical attention. It has taken decades to reverse that, and I must say, while Mock is young enough to not have been a part of that movement, she has certainly benefited from it. No offense to you Mock.
I am more ticked over Rahm’s lack or professionalism than anything else, and this coming from the very same idiots that had a fit over Cheney.
It’s the hypocrisy folks!
I am the mom of a special needs child as well and I totally agree with Mock. I complain all the time about how pc’ness has run amok in this country. Although I cringe a little when I hear people throw the word around carelessly, I have to admit to using it when the occasion calls for it. (Most often when I’m talking about the ‘O’ admin. Or even in response to something my husband has said! (Just kidding!))
If I took offense to this, I’d be a grade A hypocrite.
I really admire Sarah Palin, but I have to say I’m a little disappointed that she 1.) made issue out of this at all and 2.) then took it to the level of calling for Rahm’s firing over it. (I think he should be fired for a myriad of other reasons, but this isn’t even close to one of them). I totally get where she’s coming from – coping with the realities of her son’s issues make her sensitive and protective . . . been there, done that! However, if memory serves, she’s complained about pc issues herself. To me you can’t pick and choose. If you are against political correctness you are against it in its entirety, not just on issues that are important to you.
I think Sarah is an important voice for conservatives. I like that she is acting as watchdog of sorts and speaking out on a variety of issues. I just worry that those who are against her will trivialize her further because of her outspokenness on “non-issues.”
Since I’m on a roll here . . . can I take this opportunity to complain about one more-related issue? I am so fed up when the people who are called out on issues such as these, reach out to perceived leaders of the area of offense (Shriver and Special Olympics in this case and the Obama bowling gaffe a while back. Or Imus to Jackson/Sharpton several years ago). If an apology is warranted, how about just a plain old public apology? Do they really think getting an “I accepted his apology” vote of confidence from some supposed leader means anything to the rest of us? Puh-lease!
Whew! I feel better now . . . thanks!
Even though there are people who are justified in being offended by this kind of use of the word “retarded,” and even though Sarah Palin is probably one of those, when someone in her position uses this kind of controversy to target a political adversary, the controversy becomes more about winning a trivial, undeserved political victory (and the excitement that people seem to get from being angry about what they see on the news) than it is genuinely about the legitimate reasons that exist to speak up about it. It is certainly true that we should try to avoid “kicking [retarded people] while [they're] down,” but it is also good advice for those who are close to retarded people to try to have “thick skin.” Specifically, they shouldn’t try to get someone fired just because he used a word choice (in relative privacy) that is legitimately offensive to retarded people but that was actually not directed at them. (I have no objection to Rahm Emanuel being fired, but not because he used the word “retarded” to describe people who he thought were being stupid.)
I’m starting to think that stupidity is a skill. The more people practice it, the better at it they seem to become.
Oh, yeah — this doesn’t directly concern politics, but did anyone actually see President Obama’s appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno early last year? The controversy that everyone ended up talking about was over Obama’s “Special Olympics” joke, but what jumped out at me at the time was when (if I am remembering this correctly) Jay Leno asked Obama whether he was planning on having the bowling alleys at the White House ripped out and replaced with basketball courts. I was surprised that nothing came of that, at the time.
Now that we have learned that offensive comments that people made a year ago can become a current controversy now, maybe it isn’t too late to save Conan!
Somebody posted this video of it. It’s a little after 3:40. It was immediately followed by the “Special Olympics” joke, so maybe people were distracted before it could sink in. I was pretty surprised that when, for the first time, a sitting President of the United States appeared on the Tonight Show, Leno would have said this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvaD381KGlo&feature=related
It is possible that people who know Obama well know him for actually having a strong preference for basketball over bowling and Jay Leno happened to know about it. Otherwise, “What the Hell,” Jay?
Consistent with what we discussed in relation to the Rahm Emanuel remark, I don’t think it is necessary for for us to take offense on President Obama’s behalf, for this (it didn’t seem to bother him), but I think that my reaction of “‘What the Hell,’ Jay?” is justified.
I am in total agreement. Well said.
OK, so you write a blog about PC-ness but you won’t use the word ****? Or is there some other C-word you’re referring to? Maybe, Cracker? You don’t even spell the word **** out. It’s like you’re 8 years old.
I mean, really, one of the other comments bitches about First Amendment rights and freedom of speech but uses the word frick instead of ****?
Seriously, people…if you don’t give a **** about political correctness, let’s just call a ****, a ****. Because really, the people with “intellectual disabilities” (as is the preferred nomenclature these days) don’t give a ****.
Oh my God! You have a blog that censors swearing and edits out words like C-U-N-T when you’re bitching about political correctness. Oh, the irony.
RudeShylah is rude; worse yet, he/she is not funny. Being vulgar is easy; being civilized in the face of vulgarity is an accomplishment. To paraphrase a popular saying: “Gutter language is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”
Rudeshyla–if you honestly can’t understand the difference between vulgarity and regular words being “mainstreamed” then you have some serious “intellectual impairments” of your own. Grow up.
RudeShyla is indeed rude, and then goes on to try and the rudeness behind the 1st Amendment. How nice…brains really aren’t your forte are they?
Rude: did you ever think that this site may censor swearwords so that the people reading the blog who don’t like swear words aren’t ‘visually assaulted’ when people like YOU get angry and decide to give all of us your two cents, swear words and all?
I have a retarded bro, love him to death and would horribly “go in” as they say in the hood, on anyone who tried to harm or disrespect him in anyway; in fact I have done so. But I use the term retarded all the time because it’s an accurate biological description of what’s going on. Tonality has a lot to do with as well-it’s how you use the term.
I completely agree, though I do wish words that describe real people, like “gay” or “retarded” hadn’t become synonymous with insults. I’m just as guilty as anyone else of using them, though. It would be nice if that kind of thing dropped out of common slang, but that’s just not going to happen. Whoever said Emanuel shouldn’t have used the word because it’s unprofessional, and should have been smart enough to know that a sh*tstorm would ensue if he did, is also completely right. Alas, perfection is hard to come by (not to say ol’ Rahm’s perfect otherwise, of course. Not by a very long shot.)
This day will live in infamy as The Day That Megan Agreed With Me.
You know what occurred to me just now? When did homosexuals kidnap the word “gay” anyway? I mean, that used to mean jolly and happy and merry, and somewhere along the line, they took it and claimed it as the adjective to describe their sexual orientation. Was anyone here consulted about that prior to it happening?
If not, then I hereby claim the right to use “gay” as a synonym for absurd and silly as much as I want. So there.
Mock: Homosexuals adopted the word ‘gay’ in the 70′s when they started their political movement. It was adopted to show that they were more than happy to be homosexual. It does indeed show that they are a political force to be reckoned with.
Interesting discussion, because some people might want to say that they find the words “retard” or “gay” equally as vulgar as the infamous C- and F- words. A good test is perhaps thinking about which words you’d throw down when you’re angry, out of control (perhaps), and looking to spew filth in the general direction of the person who angered you.
Telling someone, “You’re gay” is (IMO) not as awful as telling someone, “You’re a C-.” I think even Rude would be able to point out the not-so-subtle difference in those words.
Wow, I love the hypocrisy here. Let’s just look at this:
Rude: did you ever think that this site may censor swearwords so that the people reading the blog who don’t like swear words aren’t ‘visually assaulted’ when people like YOU get angry and decide to give all of us your two cents, swear words and all?
So, you censor swearwords so as not to offend people coming to your site, and you won’t write out certain words, but you think it is okay to use the ‘r’ word? Wow, talk about hypocrisy.
Just as I suspected. You’re too clouded to understand the difference between outright vulgarity and colloquial slang. Tell me, Sara – is there another accepted definition of the c-word besides the vulgar one?