http://rosalindwiseman.com/2009/04/01/confessions-of-a-recovering-r-aholic/ creating cultures of dignity Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:04:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://rosalindwiseman.com/2009/04/01/confessions-of-a-recovering-r-aholic/comment-page-1/#comment-47 missy Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:40:45 +0000 http://rosalindwiseman.com/?p=568#comment-47 A few years ago we were in a seafood restaurant and one of my daughters spilled something or knocked something over, I don't remember. But the other daughter said "way to go, retard". There was a little boy with Down's Syndrome and his family at the next table and they all looked over at us. We felt terrible. That word is horrible and we have vowed to never use it again. It's hurtful and we were so ashamed and embarrassed that we hurt that little boy's feelings and his family's feelings. People just don't understand the power of their words. Words hurt worse than a stick and a stone. A few years ago we were in a seafood restaurant and one of my daughters spilled something or knocked something over, I don’t remember. But the other daughter said “way to go, retard”. There was a little boy with Down’s Syndrome and his family at the next table and they all looked over at us. We felt terrible. That word is horrible and we have vowed to never use it again. It’s hurtful and we were so ashamed and embarrassed that we hurt that little boy’s feelings and his family’s feelings. People just don’t understand the power of their words. Words hurt worse than a stick and a stone.

]]> http://rosalindwiseman.com/2009/04/01/confessions-of-a-recovering-r-aholic/comment-page-1/#comment-13 NataliaSophia Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:44:24 +0000 http://rosalindwiseman.com/?p=568#comment-13 I think that most Americans are hypocrites when it comes to using the "r-word" and other words you mentioned. In the "politically correct" climate of America I find it infuriating that it seems perfectly acceptable to use "retard" in any context. As a school psychologist and parent of a child with a severe learning disability who is frequently taunted with the "r-word", I'd like to ask everyone who ever utters that word to step back and think about how hurtful it is. I have spent years seeing my sweet, kind, beautiful daughter coming home from school with tears in her eyse over that ugly, hateful word! Words hurt and my daughter will remember many of those comments for the rest of her life. Even in a professional context there is a move to classify to students as "cognitively impaired" instead of "mentally retarded". Yes, it means the same thing, the child hasn't changed, but for now, the words are kinder. That is, at least until someone finds a way to use them in a derogatory manner. I think that most Americans are hypocrites when it comes to using the “r-word” and other words you mentioned. In the “politically correct” climate of America I find it infuriating that it seems perfectly acceptable to use “retard” in any context. As a school psychologist and parent of a child with a severe learning disability who is frequently taunted with the “r-word”, I’d like to ask everyone who ever utters that word to step back and think about how hurtful it is. I have spent years seeing my sweet, kind, beautiful daughter coming home from school with tears in her eyse over that ugly, hateful word! Words hurt and my daughter will remember many of those comments for the rest of her life. Even in a professional context there is a move to classify to students as “cognitively impaired” instead of “mentally retarded”. Yes, it means the same thing, the child hasn’t changed, but for now, the words are kinder. That is, at least until someone finds a way to use them in a derogatory manner.

]]>