Drop The "R" Word

I'm tired of people using this word in a negative way.

"That's so retarded!"

To you it seems like a 'normal' word
that people use out of anger,
to be funny,
or by accident
Never realizing what those words really mean
to someone in that predicament
Somebody else takes it offensively,
of course you don't say it to be mean
but only to get your point across,
 no matter what you think
you're still hurting another human being
You shouldn't put individuals down
to fit in with today's word choices
it's not fair to them...

SO LETS JUST...

DROP THE "R" WORD!!

Author's Note

I know this may not be my best piece but I am tired of people using the word retarded. It really bugs me because there are really people this way and they just use it for no reason.

A couple of months ago my school did a "Spread the word, to end the word" for the word, and I think more schools and business should use this...

Reviews

[Ayumu♥]

Absolutely! Every time you say something is "retarded" you offend every person who is truly defined under that word.

re·tard·ed (r-tärdd)
adj.
1. Often Offensive Affected with mental retardation.
2. Occurring or developing later than desired or expected; delayed.

Is that what people mean when they say "thats retarded". Most of the time no, but if they cant repect others and know exactly what they are saying they shouldnt say it at all. Outstanding poem :) 10/10

[Kayla K]

I love the lesson to this. My all-time favorite teacher has a son who has a mental retardation, and also a life-threatening disease. He only has a few months to live. One day in this teacher's class, someone said the r word. He exploded, completely losing it. It's moments like that where the person who said it should have thought about who would hear it. It can be hurtful.

[Mark]

nice sentiment but this isn't a poem

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

You are absolutely right. We should be more aware of how our words affect others.
Amen.

[Kathryn]

One of my school friends is disabled, and every time someone in school uses the R word, it makes him leave in tears. A great poem, with an even better message. Brilliant work :)

[compositionc]

That's so true! People will use the word, not caring how it means. I try my hardest not to say it, but there are times when it slips out. My solution? Say random words like GUMMY BEARS or PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME instead of the r word.

[WynterPhoenix]

Thank you! Thank you for writing this. I took the pledge a couple years ago to drop the R-Word from my vocabulary and I've gotten a few of my friends to pledge as well. I wrote a blog about End The Word on my website and added links to their website for anyone who wishes to take the pledge as well.

Here's the link to my blog if you'd like to check it out: http://bthevoice.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/6883274-spread-the-word-to-end-the-word-

And the Spread the word to end the word website if you want to add it to your author's note: http://r-word.org/

The pledge button is in the top right hand corner. =]

[Kat Plunkett]

I agree. I also feel the same way about the words "Gay, F*g, Queer" , Etc. Also any thing like "N***a, Cracka, Gringo, Beaner" Etc.


I have a special ed cousin.
I Am pansexual and over half of my friends are
bi or gay, and
i have black & mixed family members, as well as hispanics.

I can't stand ignorance.

[SparksLC]

Good job, more people should think about what they say and how it affects someone before they say it. =)

[Shiningwolf]

This made me chuckle at the very first sentence. But you are absoluty right about this though. I respect you for speaking up.

[Christie Moses]

You make a sincere and valid point here. People tend to be very careless with that word and seldom think of how hurtful it can be to some. I appreciate you writing and posting this as a kind reminder to us all. I have a cousin who is mentally impaired and has been since he was a baby. He is very sweet and childlike even though he is a full grown man. Throwing that word around casually is unfair to him and others like him, even if its not meant toward them. This is something I think we all need to read.