tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5274291.post6500999077186789607..comments2023-10-30T09:45:32.994-05:00Comments on The Musings of Kev: Maybe It's Time to Get Back to "Sticks and Stones" AgainKevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01433235586096305061noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5274291.post-48176845464383214472009-01-07T09:02:00.000-06:002009-01-07T09:02:00.000-06:00I guess the only difference with the word retarded...I guess the only difference with the word retarded or retard is that you're not really playing on a level playing field. People with special needs can't really understand how words can never hurt you when in fact they do hurt. When you are watching the movie Tropic Thunder and you see the tagline "once upon a time...there was a retard" what do you think? You think about some dim witted person and the next thing you know you are mocking people who are "retards." Words can hurt. I have a daughter with special needs. When my other child goes to school and her teacher asks the class "does this hat make me look retarded?" what is she supposed to think? People have a vision in their head of what a retarded person is and it's a demeaning vision. My daughter with special needs can read, write, tell jokes, and is incredibly funny. Yet, if someone makes a joke about special ed or uses the word retarded in a movie she is watching (Speed Racer, Nancy Drew, Get Smart, etc), what is she to think? I'll tell you. She's to think that she is a useless, stupid and unproductive member of society. That's the message clear and simple. To me it's not about free speech or being politically correct. It's about having a little decency for a group of people just doing the best they can.<BR/>Sorry, slurs hurt no matter how you look at it.<BR/>Thanks for listening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com