harm, but you have no idea how alone we feel even when we are with you”.(stephens). My sister doesn't have a voice. She can't express how she feels because she doesn't even know what's going on, or that there's a word that's being used against her. But John does! He's able to give an insight that words hurt them as much as it hurts a “ normal” person. He continues to say “So, why am I hurt when I hear “retard.” Let’s face it, nobody uses the word as a term of praise. At best, it is used as another way of saying “stupid” or “loser.” At worst, it is aimed directly at me as a way to label me as an outcast — a thing, not a person. I am not stupid. I am not a loser. I am not a thing. I am a person.”(stephens)
Now you might say “Oh I didn't mean it that way, I meant it in a joking way”. But I’m sorry to put this bluntly but last time I checked you aren't part of the Oxford, or Webster Dictionary staff. You can't just change the meaning of a word. You might say “ You can't take it that way, it's not that serious”. And I say there is absolutely no other way to take it. You are responsible for the choice of words you use. Words are so powerful that it cause people to take their lives. What is not serious about that? Do you think if the president has to address an event or topic ,that it has to be a big deal? Well on on October 5, 2010, President Obama signed a legislation requiring the federal government to replace the term “mental
retardation" with "intellectual disability" in many areas of government. That includes federal health. Education and labor laws. A word that was once used to describe a disability is now banned in areas of government under the Rosa law.
I'd like to leave off with a memory of my sister. My sister and I were walking down the street and I had a couple that were in their early 20s break out in laughter because of how my sister was walking. And what did she do she turned and laughed and smiled and waved to them. Said Hi. I went home and cried. I cried because she didn't even realize what was happening. She gave them the brightest biggest smile unknowing that they don't care how she is or what she is. I thought “only if she knew, only if she could equally say something back”. When you use the word Retarded, at that very second you are degrading everyone that has a disability. Kate Bornstein said "Let's stop "tolerating" or "accepting" difference, as if we're so much better for not being different in the first place. Instead, let's celebrate difference, because in this world it takes a lot of guts to be different." My sister is not an insult.
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