Last week, two students sat out in front of Ross Hall where plenty of foot traffic would see them and asked passers by to sign a poster taking a pledge that they would stop using the “r-word.”
That “r-word” would be retard, but you already knew that because when you see “the r-word” written out, your internal dialogue sounds like this: “The r-word? What is that? Oh. Retard. The r-word is retard.”
So why would they make you say it twice in your head by forcing you to translate their baby-speak? Why do they think it’s so horrible to say “retard” out loud? Because they don’t like it and believe that words, devoid of any context, have the power to hurt people.
Well I don’t like “the r-word.” I’m fine with retard, but people saying “the r-word” really gets my goat. It upsets me that people would think it’s responsible to replace the word retard with “the r-word.” It offends me that people are foolish enough to think that’s better somehow.
When I hear or read “the r-word” somewhere, it reminds me that some people think their comfort is more important than my right to freely express myself.
I’m offended by “the r-word.”
But you know what? I’m only offended because I choose to be. It’s not anybody else’s responsibility to stop saying “the r-word” and start saying retard just because I prefer the latter.
When you start policing other people’s language, you’re in the wrong. There’s no justification for limiting the speech of others, no matter how offended you or others might be by their speech. The great thing about America is that we’re free to offend each other all day and night.
Beyond that, there’s a practical reason not to throw out words we don’t want anymore: you never know when you might need that word you threw away.
Take “The Vagina Monologues” for example. One of the most popular skits performed during this feminist show is called “Reclaiming Cunt.” During the skit, the speaker takes pride in what is normally referred to in a hushed, fearful tone as “the c-word.” A word some people would have banned in the name of decency was used to empower an oppressed group.
And if none of this convinces you, let me share with you a quote from the good book: “Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” Dumbledore said that. In the Harry Potter series, which I consider a divinely inspired text, Harry and Dumbledore are seen as brave because they’ll say “Voldemort” instead of the infantile “You-know-who” everyone else uses.
Words only have the power we give them. If you really find a word offensive, the best thing you can do is use it as much as possible in a new context. That’s what happened with the word lame and that’s what we ought to do with retard.
