Spread the Word to End the Word

In my lifetime, I have watched a word I grew up hating become one of the most common slang words in America. One report I watched earlier today said it appears on Facebook over 6,000 times a day. I am one of the world's least confrontational introverts, but I have gone up to strangers in public and asked them not to use it. My one rule in my time as a youth minister was that my kids not ever say it (and to their immense credit, they didn't). It has become a catchall word for something uncool, as an insult, or even just as an expression of frustration. It is everywhere, and that has to stop.

The word is retard.

Most of the time, people who use it don't mean to be insulting or offensive. But if you had heard that word hurled across playgrounds at the person you loved most in the world? You'd hate it too.

There is a great organization working to raise awareness of just how offensive this word is. You can check out their site here. They have lots of ways to encourage an end of this word and to instruct folks on how to get others to quit using it. March 7th is the day they have chosen to bring national awareness to this unacceptable word.

Challenge yourself to challenge those who use this word without thinking. Let us all challenge ourselves to choose our words with respect and creativity rather than out of ignorance or habit.

My younger sister, Anne, has Down Syndrome. A million words describe her: loving, sweet, friendly, kind, helpful, joyful, devoted, funny, patient, strong-willed, soft-hearted, exuberant, a blessing. And yes, she absolutely is different.

She's better.

If you met her, you'd love her. And then you too would want to punch every person who ever uses this word as an insult. And you'd certainly want to correct anyone who uses it without thinking. See her face. Change your words.