Language is supposed to be beautiful. People should not use it to hurt others with labels. A word becomes offensive when people turn it into negative stereotypes. Especially when it becomes exclusive and demeaning.
Language has an impact on attitudes. This in turn, affects the actions of many, when it should be a tool that is centered on being pro people. As if, their condition was not enough, those with disabilities have been victims of painful name calling from those who are not physically or mentally challenged. This had pushed advocacy groups to come up with the R word pledge.
Not only that. Now, many have resorted to using the word retarded as synonymous to stupid or dumb. People without disabilities think they earned the right to indict painful stereotypes to those without disabilities. Sometimes, not even caring if they are dealing with an innocent child.
People fail to understand that even when it is not intended to hurt someone, it still hurts to hear it. Because no matter what you do, the fact that it is associated to those who are mentally challenged, remains unchanged. Hence, a campaign like that would help these children, and society most of all realize one thing.
As such, they must be embraced and included, not the other way around. They should be regarded with utmost understanding, especially by those who do not have the same condition. Just because it is the human thing to do. And you can get rid of the R word if you cannot trust yourself to be responsible in using it.
You can never change the way society see it as. That is why such advocacies exist in the first place. There are ways to avoid it, so that it can be eliminated altogether, as what the campaign aims to achieve. First and foremost, know that people who have disabilities are still people.
By calling them retarded, they draw some sort of analogy that it is socially unacceptable. They too, can have positive contributions to the community. That is why advocacy groups wants people to recognize their skills, talents and contributions. So that others would not have to focus on what they cannot do, or cope up with.
Use alternative terms. Do not forget its real definition by thinking twice before saying it. Be sensitive to the meanings it brings across. Because of its negative connotations, mentally retarded is a term has become an unacceptable diagnostic term. It is important for the majority to understand the need for this, since people who have intellectual disabilities have been discriminated for far too long.
Thinking that they deserve anything otherwise is a blatant disrespect not only to children in particular, but to humanity in general. This does not help anybody. Words matter a lot. Especially the meanings they entail. It is high time all people recognizes that everybody is entitled to being different. That individuality should not be scorned but embraced as something positive, not hateful. Language is supposed to be beautiful. Do not pain people with it.
Language has an impact on attitudes. This in turn, affects the actions of many, when it should be a tool that is centered on being pro people. As if, their condition was not enough, those with disabilities have been victims of painful name calling from those who are not physically or mentally challenged. This had pushed advocacy groups to come up with the R word pledge.
Not only that. Now, many have resorted to using the word retarded as synonymous to stupid or dumb. People without disabilities think they earned the right to indict painful stereotypes to those without disabilities. Sometimes, not even caring if they are dealing with an innocent child.
People fail to understand that even when it is not intended to hurt someone, it still hurts to hear it. Because no matter what you do, the fact that it is associated to those who are mentally challenged, remains unchanged. Hence, a campaign like that would help these children, and society most of all realize one thing.
As such, they must be embraced and included, not the other way around. They should be regarded with utmost understanding, especially by those who do not have the same condition. Just because it is the human thing to do. And you can get rid of the R word if you cannot trust yourself to be responsible in using it.
You can never change the way society see it as. That is why such advocacies exist in the first place. There are ways to avoid it, so that it can be eliminated altogether, as what the campaign aims to achieve. First and foremost, know that people who have disabilities are still people.
By calling them retarded, they draw some sort of analogy that it is socially unacceptable. They too, can have positive contributions to the community. That is why advocacy groups wants people to recognize their skills, talents and contributions. So that others would not have to focus on what they cannot do, or cope up with.
Use alternative terms. Do not forget its real definition by thinking twice before saying it. Be sensitive to the meanings it brings across. Because of its negative connotations, mentally retarded is a term has become an unacceptable diagnostic term. It is important for the majority to understand the need for this, since people who have intellectual disabilities have been discriminated for far too long.
Thinking that they deserve anything otherwise is a blatant disrespect not only to children in particular, but to humanity in general. This does not help anybody. Words matter a lot. Especially the meanings they entail. It is high time all people recognizes that everybody is entitled to being different. That individuality should not be scorned but embraced as something positive, not hateful. Language is supposed to be beautiful. Do not pain people with it.
About the Author:
When you are looking for the facts about the R word pledge, go to the web pages online here today. More details can be seen at http://familymemberinc.org now.
No comments:
Post a Comment