Hateful Speech: The word “retard”
March 26, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Words do wound, as Beverly Beckham writes in the March 25th Boston Globe. Globe, whose 3 year old granddaughter Lucy has Down Syndrome, calls on the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation to change its name, “and soon”: The word “retard” has “gone mainstream,” Beckham notes:
It’s on TV. In movies. On the radio. In books. In music. It was the title of a Black Eyed Peas hit song, “Let’s Get Retarded,” which was changed (because the ARC of the United States, formerly known as the Association for Retarded Citizens, wrote and objected?) to “Let’s Get It Started.”
But it played to sell-out crowds as “Let’s Get Retarded” because retarded is a popular West Coast term that, according to Songfacts.com, is “chanted at clubs and dances and used in everyday slang” and means “to go crazy on the dance floor” (synonyms are “Go Dumb” and “Get/Go Stupid”).
The word is also all over the Internet.
Retarded has even spawned new words: celebutard, a famous stupid person; debutard, a rich stupid person; e-tard, a stupid Internet user — stupid being the common denominator, and “tard” a suffix and a word in itself. (”Tard: Adjective used to describe one so retarded, they do not deserve the ‘re’ ” — Urban Dictionary.)
Indeed: Go to Urban Dictionary and you’ll see this “definition” for “Autism DS:
A Term for idiots that have nothing better to do with their lives.
DS stands for Down syndrome
………
Noun:
What are you Autism DS?
Man you have Autism DS.
What are you like, Autism DS?Adj.
Go home and Autism DS.
I am not going to say that this is hate speech, but it is certainly hateful speech. And it stings even more to read it because, as Beckham writes, the world (some of it) has changed:
Everyone knows someone who is challenged in some way — who has autism or cancer, who is head-injured or depressed, who has war wounds, who is old — people who need extra time or help or support to get along in the world.
And in our world today, we assist these people. We — most of us — do not mock them.
There are exceptions.
And let them remain the exceptions to the rule: We do not mock those with challenges. We listen, we strive to understand, and to use our words wisely.
that is shocking—-was there a Special Needs ministry in place?
hey im makayla, im 13 yers old. I really dislike the “R” word! I hear it all the time and it hurts me as well as others. I don’t have a disability or have someone close that has one,sometimes i wish i did. I used to say the word all the time,till my mom showed me something. She showed me something her bosses son had wrote about the word. I started to read it and when i was done i was in tears i felt really bad. I had realized how those people felt. I showed my friend but she really didn’t care. Now i never say that word and i try to get other people to stop.
Today o was having an okay day, not the worst. i got out of school and went to a pizza place with my friend. when i was there i over heard one of my old friends talking to my new friend, she was making fun of what he did then he started to use that word. I look and he was making the hand motion while saying “wow you look retarded you retard” i was about to cry, without saying anything i told my friend bye and walked home. My friend knew why i went home and i could tell she thought it was dumb..do any of you think i did the wrong thing?
The one thing im happy about is in one of classes in school someone said that word and i said you should not say that its not the nicest thing. Not caring she kept saying it, trying not to get mad i talked to the teacher she understood how i felt. Now we cant say that word in class:) so im encouraging all the people out there who read this to pass it on and help stop the use of that word! THANKS!
I stumbled upon this page looking for different opinions on hate speech. What I have concluded is that the majority of you consider not only the slang term “retard” but any other slang term as offensive. HOWEVER. Laws are not made to protect America’s citizens’ feelings from being hurt. There are much bigger problems to be faced in this country and its associations with other countries. As some have already mentioned, these words should not be considered offensive unless used in such context. So, when these words are meant to be used in such a manner, wouldn’t you rather their contempt be expressed in the form of speech than for them to take their anger out in the form of physical action? And for those who have said they would harm one who said such things about someone; it is your own childish and irrational reactions that are the problem. This is where counterspeech comes into play. As Justice Douglas famously stated: ” a function of free speech under our system of government is to invite disputes.” Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and rather than being ignorant and stubborn towards these views, say how you feel instead of verbally attacking those who disagree with you.
I am fifteen years old and everything Ive said is what I believe. Stop being stuck up with your perspective and take the time to listen to others’ beliefs and consider their reasons. And to those who are the ones telling others your beliefs: instead of being uptight, be able to back up what you say. People are more likely to listen to what you have to say if you can give valid reasoning.
Ok im 14 and i have a sibling with a disability, and yet i use retarded all the time. But i don’t do it to offend people. i take it as, that word has taken a new meaning. It used to mean some one with a low IQ. but now i think it has the same meaning as just “stupid or dumb”.
Wow…that is so touching. I will be honest when I say I do use the word Retard a lot. I got to this website by accident but I think it is just fate. Everything happens for a reason. I think I learned a valuable lesson today and i promise never to say hateful language like that ever again. I dont think people should use hateful words like that casually ever again.
My cousin is has down syndrome. But that does no make me love her any less.
I don’t believe that anyone is trying to be stuck up or self righteous by feeling strongly about protecting the feelings of others. I would much rather have someone’s contempt be expressed in speech rather than physical action like you say, but why does something hateful need to be said at all?
I have never heard anyone use the word retard or retarded as a compliment. Why must we use that word to make fun of someone? When we say retard or retarded we aren’t so much making fun of the person we say it to, but rather the people who are actually mentally challenged. We are making fun of people who had no control over how they were created and who would more than likely never make fun of anyone else.
I challenge you to volunteer a couple hours of your time at the Special Olympics or something to that effect, and I can almost guarantee you will stop using that word. Our world is full of differences. We don’t need to agree with everything or everyone, but we need to be respectful of each others’ views and opinions.
Makayla, I think you absolutely did the right thing. Stand by your principles!
i agree with you completley. i know 2 people, my cousin and my sisters friends brother that are disabled, yet i still use the word. I do think the word has taken on a completley new meaning and it is now just another word for stupid or dumb. People refuse to see this and keep complaining.