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Local view: We need to make an effort to wipe out the R-word

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By Carolyn Chamberlin

Sunday, Aug 17, 2008 - 12:45:42 am CDT

Wednesday marked the launch of one of Hollywood’s largest-budgeted comedies, “Tropic Thunder.” This week also marked the launch of the R-word campaign by the Special Olympics movement intended to address part of this film … that part being the mockery of those with intellectual disabilities and the liberal use of the R-word (“retard”) in a fashion that is offensive and demeaning to the population Special Olympics serves.

The R-word long has been a harsh reminder of the ridicule and negative stigma directed toward people with intellectual disabilities. Yet the word is becoming increasingly popular in today’s culture. Although it is often not directed at a person with intellectual disability, it is used in a negative fashion, to demean or highlight someone’s lack of ability — a direct reflection on what people view as the capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities.

It is telling of Hollywood’s impact on society when we become desensitized to such offensive conduct that it might be considered appropriate or funny to some.

Related Link(s):


8.16.08: 'Tropic Thunder' a controversial hit
Review: 'Tropic Thunder'
Editorial: Movie should be catalyst for change

The R-word campaign is intended to reach people who may not understand the significant dehumanizing and discriminatory impact caused by the use of the R-word, as well as the negative stereotypes use of the word perpetuates.

Special Olympics is hoping people show their support for the R-word campaign by going to www.r-word.org and pledging to no longer use the word.

Why is this important? In Nebraska, Special Olympics serves more than 3,300 individuals with intellectual disabilities across the state. We have seen firsthand the positive impact sports has had on their lives and, more importantly, the positive impact of inclusion and acceptance.

Society has made a large effort to be sensitive to visible differences among us, such as race and color. Our country has come a long way in the past 100 years. It is time to place as much emphasis on non-visible differences and make equal strides on changing the perception and acceptance of individuals who are born with intellectual disabilities by no choice of their own.

When people can make a commitment to change their own attitude and perception, this affects others in their circle of influence. If this becomes a priority, we will see a change of perception on a larger scale in our society, schools and workplaces.

I encourage people to support our efforts toward creating awareness of the harm caused by the R-word. This can be as simple as discussing it at the dinner table or writing a letter to Hollywood expressing disdain for their mockery of those with intellectual disabilities. Whatever people choose, I hope they start their efforts today.

Carolyn Chamberlin is executive director of Special Olympics Nebraska.


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Jason wrote on August 17, 2008 8:55 am:
" No, we don't. "

 just a thought wrote on August 17, 2008 10:31 am:
" Or as a society we could just learn to grow up and not let silly little things like words upset us. Ive been made fun of plenty in my life, and the best way to win against bullies is to ignore them, the more riled up you get the more fun they have. "

 Dang wrote on August 17, 2008 2:02 pm:
" I clicked on this hoping you meant "Republican". Close though. "

 Tzi wrote on August 17, 2008 3:17 pm:
" ...so censorship under a different name makes it nicer?

I'm sorry I think what you're proposing goes against the first amendment protections of speech and press, but I seem to be in the minority anymore... "

 whatever wrote on August 18, 2008 5:07 am:
" Yes, let's stifle free speech and endorse censorship. We start here and where does it lead. We should all be very uncomfortable with anyone or any group that advocates censorship. "

 i guess wrote on August 18, 2008 8:35 am:
" Carolyn and her friends do not remember the grade school adage of "sticks and Stones". Censoring speech and eliminating words from our lexicon is done primarily to stifle opinions other than our own. Go back to grade school people then after a learning lesson, grow up! "

 Darwin wrote on August 18, 2008 9:02 am:
" I wont even dignify this article with a derisive comment.
Well, I guess I just did, but still...

Grow up America!! Sticks and stones, and all that... "

 Outside the Box wrote on August 18, 2008 10:42 am:
" Hooray! More politically correct double-talk!!

From the previews, I thought Tropic Thunder looked stupid (or possibly some other R word). But given all of the outrage, I'm now tempted to see it to see what the fuss is all about.

Keep up your protests. The people who made this movie are laughing all the way to the bank. "

 Pam wrote on August 18, 2008 10:43 am:
" I agree with the author. Having a family member with a developmental disability, I find the R-word as offensive as the N-word. "

 Ryan wrote on August 18, 2008 10:55 am:
" Fine. We'll find a politically correct word to replace it, then as time goes by, this new word will become offensive and we'll need to replace it. Then, as time goes by, we'll find a politically correct word to... "

 dish wrote on August 18, 2008 12:13 pm:
" This is a movie, don't go see it. There are a lot of -words people have a hard time with, so don't use them, but do we have to have a .com, to pledge we won't use them, sounds childish. Maybe Carolyn is using all this for advertising? "

 mitchy_v wrote on August 18, 2008 12:22 pm:
" Would you prefer "mentally challenged", or would that become offencive too?

Did "The Ringer" get this much attention? "

 n wrote on August 18, 2008 1:28 pm:
" i don't really think this is a new issue. the "r word" has been used in this fashion for an incredibly long time. i find it equivalent to using the word "gay" to refer to things that are lame or stupid. i don't like to use these words, or enjoy hearing them, but i don't think it's that big of an issue in the grand scheme of things. and Tropic Thunder...it's a Ben Stiller movie. i'm not sure what one would expect out of it besides slapstick, sometimes offensive comedy.

(i, too, though the "r word" was going to be republican." "

 Darwin wrote on August 18, 2008 2:09 pm:
" As of this day, I vow to eliminate all words from the human lexicon that describe me in any fashion. I shall here-by take unmitigated offense at anyone describing me, whole or in part, by any of the following adjectives:
Including but not limited to: White, Middle Class, Educated, Male, Suburbanite, Tall, Intelligent, Clothed, Homeowner, Human.

I demand to be described as: A melanin-challenged, differently financed, bravely non-ignorant, ovary deficient, rurally neutral, extra-heighted, neural-positive, artificially draped, structurally enhanced, neoprimate.

Don’t make me call the ACLU. If you really provoke my Rage Enhanced Temper Syndrome (RETS), I may need to create a website: the_wmcemstichh_words.com
That’ll show you. "

 Alan wrote on August 18, 2008 2:11 pm:
" Speech that doesn't offend requires no protection. People who suffer from mental disability enjoy unparalleled freedom in this county compared to other parts of the world. Part of the price of freedom is to let the other guy have his say even if you find it offensive.

Tropic Thunder sounds like a stupid movie that I would not likely see, except maybe on TV during a bad movie night.

I do however agree with the power of a boycott. Seeing that the Special Olympics have advocated a boycott of the movie I have decided to boycott the Special Olympics with my checkbook. Don't bother calling again
. "

 doug wrote on August 18, 2008 4:36 pm:
" There is always going to be particular words that offend certain people or a specific 'group'. I can think of worse things that should be censored. And I will almost guarantee the people that are offended by this language won't be seen going to this type of movie in the first place. Now if a Walt Disney movie contained the 'N' word... that would probably be a legit complaint. "

 response to comments wrote on August 18, 2008 10:12 pm:
" I agree with the "sticks & stones" saying and free speech and stuff, but how is it okay to use the R-word when the people it is demeaning to can't even defend themselves....they didn't choose to be disabled, they were born that way. How can you say people should just deal with it and "grow up?" How are intellectually disabled people supposed to "just deal with it" when they don't have the emotional/reasoning capabilities of us "normal" people? How are they supposed to "deal" with cruel things like this when some of them function at a child's level or even younger?? "

 The big picture wrote on August 19, 2008 9:12 am:
" As society moves foward, some terms take on new meanings and become slang.

anyone ever heard the term "I got canned"? that person does not mean that they were stuffed in a can and sealed inside. they mean something entirely different. Just like when songs or movies that use the r-word they don't mean the exact definition of the r-word, but something entirely different. "

 Charlie wrote on August 19, 2008 10:05 pm:
" I find the posts here interesting at best and scary at worst. While I agree that censorship is never the answer, I find myself wondering what the reaction would be if Mel Brook's "Blazing Saddles" was re-released in the theaters today. The pervasive use of the "N" word in that movie is not to be believed, yet at the time of the release, it was considered "just a word." The reality is the word is associated with hatred and injustice to a particular group of people. It is perhaps one of the most offensive words in the English language. Just as many people here can never understand the true feelings the "N" word evokes, most can never understand the feelings the "R" word can evoke.

I have a daughter who is mentally challenged, in the truest sense of the word. When I say the truest sense of the word I mean in accordance to Webster's which defines the "R" word as, "sometimes offensive: slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress." I am not ashamed of this and in fact I have learned more from her than she has learned from me. What most of us posting here take for granted, she has worked five times as hard to achieve. It does offend me when a definition of a specific group is used in a derogatory manner. Just as I would not use the "N" word, I would not use the "R" or "gay" in a derogatory way. I am willing to bet most of the people who say it is just a word fall into the category of what society deems as "Normal."

As for the person who brought up the movie, "The Ringer" I would remind you that it was endorsed by the Special Olympics because of it's inclusion of people with special needs.

I must be perfectly clear. I believe Political Correctness is taken to the extreme. I believe that censorship is wrong. I believe we have become a society of passing the buck and laying blame on others. I love Ben Stiller's movies, but I won't see this one because I don't agree with his choices. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and by definition, an opinion cannot be wrong.

Yes, there is the adage of "sticks and stones may break bones, but names will never hurt" but words also help to perpetuate stigmas. Please, don't ever censor. I believe everyone has the right to freedom of speech. I believe that as a father of a daughter with special needs, I will continually express the use of the "R" word inappropriately can hurt. I also believe that common sense should prevail. After all you would not ever think of replacing the “R” word with the “N” word and say, "Never go fully …."

"

 The Omega Man wrote on August 20, 2008 10:17 pm:
" It's interesting the N word comes up. My experience has shown that the N word is used primarily by African Americans. I knew an African American who used the word freely to describe family and friends who were on the "wrong track". He used the word in the same manner and with the same intent any White Racist would use it. As far as the R word goes. I get that it is offensive and it's offensive for a reason, thus it should never be censored in any manner. I would suggest Ms. Chamberlin put her money where her mouth is and make a concerted effort to boycott those companies that support such movies and anything else that uses words or makes action in areas that she finds offensive. At one time that what Americans with a "code of ethics" did. Now they complain and what some "universal force of justice" to do the work for them. Speak up for what you believe in, but take action and don't expect the "universal force of justice" to do it YOU are that fore. "

 jdjolet wrote on August 21, 2008 9:21 am:
" I find it "telling" that your paper takes this high moral stand against the word retard, yet, has no problem making light of John McCain's war wounds and facial cancer disfigurements. (editorial cartoon 8-17-08) This is a man... a national hero... who has served his country well for over 50 years. Perhaps we should change the meaning of the "R" word to describe callous and sophomoric editors. "

 no crybabies wrote on August 24, 2008 10:55 am:
" While those using the argument that banning a word inhibits their free speech rights, they might remember that with such freedom comes responsibility. How many of those protagonists for freedom of speech walk up to obese people and tell them they're fat?

On the other side, those affected by a condition that is accurately described as retarted could stand to grow a thicker skin. Actually it's amazing to me how many letters to the editor have been generated by people who become sensitive only when they bear children with such conditions.

Deleting a word, whether it's describing an idiot, gay, or something that could surely cause a stronger emotional reaction, only changes it to another word over time. Didn't your mother ever teach you sticks and stones? "

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