I have heard people say many times, “You look like
a retard.” This is a terrible phrase that people sometimes use which can be
offensive to other people. We may think that these words really don’t offend
anyone, even the person to whom they are directed. This is definitely not the
case. For example, if these words are directed to someone who really is
developmentally delayed, there is no question that he or she will be offended.
It is also likely that many other people will be offended because they might
know someone who is developmentally delayed.
When someone says, “You are a retard,” he or she
most likely doesn’t mean that he or she thinks the person at whom the comment
was directed scored in the lower percentages of an I.Q. test, which is the real
meaning of that word. This makes it seem like using the term is perfectly fine.
It isn’t okay though, because it is turning the word “retard” into a bad
word. It also makes it seem like being developmentally delayed is an awful
thing. It stereotypes people who are developmentally delayed, including how
they dress and how they look.
People would make sure something was done if someone
said an anti-Semitic comment or a racist slur in school. Yet, there are many
negative comments made every single day in school using the word “retard,”
but we aren’t even taught in school how bad it is. This is definitely wrong
and should be corrected.
There are many strategies you can use to stop people
from using this awful term. The first thing you absolutely have to do is stop
using the term yourself. If you hear people using the term, tell them that they
shouldn’t joke about things like that. It isn’t easy to tell this to someone
whom you don’t know that well, so try to tell your friends first. Remember
that doing anything at all is better than letting this terrible practice
continue.