I was just reading about how Ann Coulter is refusing to apologize for the word RETART in a derogatory way to Obama even after all the criticism. She says that since the terms "idiot" moron and imbecile are now acceptable when they once werent, so she doesnt see why she should apologize for using "Retard" in the same way.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/23/living/ann-coulter-obama-tweet/index.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/26/ann-coulter-retard_n_2022621.html?utm_hp_ref=media
coconut / 8854 posts
Extremely offensive. I feel anyone who uses it in a derogatory way is just ignorant......personally.
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
Yes. I actually like her but I don't like it when anyone uses that word. It's totally offensive.
clementine / 814 posts
I read the letter the Olympian athlete with down syndrome wrote to her. I was in tears.
I can't believe she wont apologize even after that letter.
I personally do not like to hear when people use that word. I would rather hear a million curse words than hear someone using the r word.
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
@JustlikeHeaven: I saw that letter too, she should definitely have apologised after that.
honeydew / 7589 posts
I do find it offensive, because of it's origin.
It was typically a derogatory term for children with a variety of mental (or sometimes even physical) handicaps. I've seen it used many times for those with cerebral palsy or other things that affect speech, as well as children with downs syndrome, etc.
It's become a word with a hurtful history, and many parents of special-needs kids find it painful to hear, not to mention the special-needs population themselves.
For that reason, I would never use it.
grapefruit / 4703 posts
@mediagirl: I'm curious to hear what you like about her? I don't mean that in a snarky way, I've just always thought of her as someone who says things to intentionally piss people off, but maybe I'm missing the point.
honeydew / 7589 posts
Kelle Hampton (popular blogger and mother of a beautiful daughter who happens to have down syndrome) on the word -
"And please, if you do anything this month—make efforts to stop the use of the word “retard” and "retarded" in your family’s vocabulary. Comparing even your own absent-minded actions to a word originally intended to classify individuals with mental disabilities is incredibly hurtful to the families who love someone with special needs. I hear it every time it's said--in conversation, on television, when people don't even know I'm listening. I know you're not talking about my child, and I know that you are kind and accepting of others' differences. I understand it takes a while to dispose of a word that has for so long been accepted in our society. But know that it stings to hear that word. It stings to have that painful part inside you that's on alert to defend your child flare up and remind you that there's a bad word that people use to make fun of your beautiful, wonderful, capable child."
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts
I find it offensive. At the same time though, sometimes I feel like I can't really say anything without offending someone. Not sure how to reconcile those two feelings...
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@Shutterbug: I opt to refrain on the open forum. If you would like me to answer that offline, I wouldn't mind.
pineapple / 12053 posts
yuck, she sucks. i do find the word offensive and i can't stand when people say things just to get people riled up.
bananas / 9628 posts
Absolutely. I had little respect for her before, but now I find her only useful purpose to be that she irritates me to the point where I am forced to fortify my own arguments against what she shares as her beliefs. I understand politics can get heated & ugly, but using language that shows such disrespect to a group of people with no control over their limitations is cruel & unbecoming. How can you expect someone to think of you as an educated, knowledgable, intellectual when you speak publicly in such a way & refuse to even acknowledge when you've been wrong??
honeydew / 7687 posts
Yes, it does. @arden put it beautifully so I'll just 'ditto' what she said. I do understand words slipping out - but she obviously shows no remorse which is reprehensible to me. Glad, however, that the incident is initiating conversations about why people are offended by it, and the reasons not to use it.
squash / 13199 posts
Thanks everyone for your opinions. I also think she should have just apologized for it
bananas / 9118 posts
Yes, anyone who has loved a child with a disability should take rampant offense to that term. I used to volunteer with hippotherapy (therapy on horseback) and would be so hurt and outraged if anyone called my little angels retarded, I think using that term for anyone is a terrible thing.
People need to be aware of the words they use to describe something they don't like- retarded, gay, etc. People get hurt by this.
Also I find Ann Coulter offensive and have zero respect for her.
honeydew / 7589 posts
@lemondrop: Yes! I hate how so many use the phrase "That's so gay", in a negative way.
Can you imagine how it makes gay children feel when they hear people call a stupid joke or an ugly sweater or an annoying teacher "gay"?
It's basically using "gay" as a cuss word. It's used to replace "that's f'd up".
I'm starting a revolt against using these words like this...
bananas / 9628 posts
@Arden: when i was in college, my roommate used to say, 'that's so gay' all the time! i asked her for one weekend to replace 'gay' with homosexual or happy, depending on what she was trying to express, but that if neither of those worked, to say something else. i will give her credit for going along with it! she stopped using it after that because i guess she really just had never noticed how often she used 'gay' as a negative way to describe something.
pineapple / 12526 posts
I find that word extremely offensive... and this is from someone who doesn't really find the "c" word all that offensive.
pomelo / 5331 posts
Yes, I find it offensive. And I find her entire existence offensive, too.
pear / 1787 posts
She is an idiotic troll who spews intolerance and inaccurate information. I find the word very offensive--I was raised by a special ed teacher and was educated about the derogatory nature of calling someone/something a retard/retarded. I agree with PPs that to me, it's like using the word "gay" to describe something bad.
On a side note, I know a mother who posts pictures of her son on Facebook and calls him "the rocktard." WTF.
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