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Post by wrblack on Feb 3, 2010 17:32:33 GMT -5
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Post by Ericsmomma on Feb 3, 2010 18:51:43 GMT -5
I gotta agree with Bob. While I think Mr. Emanuel's choice of words was inappropriate, I think its being blown way out of proportion. Although I admired Sarah Palin, her suggesting that he be fired is way over the top. I'm not a big fan of Mr. Emanuel (for other reasons), and hopefully he will learn from his mistakes. I think meeting with Mr. Shriver is a good first step. And as a mother of a special child, I think Mrs. Palin missed the point. Instead of using this opportunity to reach out and make others aware of the damage such language causes, she instead made it about his "firing"....it sounds mean spirited and political. Leave our kids out of this crap, and focus on whats really important...respect and dignity for all special people in this world. just my opinion...(sorry if I offended anyone). Dolly
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Post by Connie on Feb 3, 2010 20:17:56 GMT -5
This is the second (if not third) time this White House has made this mistake!!!
You would think it would have been covered in the "employment orientation" by the first person who made this blunder and was in charge of hiring/appointing these/this people/person!!! Obviously people with disabilities are not a big priority with him or his cabinet or this would not happening!!
It's never under any circumstance ok to make fun of people at the expense of others.
To quote Forrest Gump "Stupid is as Stupid does"
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Post by CC on Feb 3, 2010 21:28:14 GMT -5
WOW I have to say this has gotten so political that I fear the real issue will be lost Palin screaming for Mr. Emanuel to be fired over this is just plain silly He apologized, OK he should have thought out his wording but he was ticked and it came out, but he apologized. Yes Jackie I did read both your posts and you did apologize and I am glad you did because yes you were mad and your first post did sound the same as if you were using the R word. But you apologized and I accept that So why not accept Emanuel's apology? If Palin really thinks Emanuel should be fire Hmmm then why is she going to Texas for Rick Perry?? Top Perry aide used 'R' word, Hutchison campaign alleges Posted: February 3rd, 2010 08:03 PM ET From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby Texas Gov. Rick Perry is running for a third term but faces two Republican opponents. Washington (CNN) – Sarah Palin caused a stir this week when she demanded that President Obama fire his Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel for using the word "retarded" to describe Democrats opposed to the administration's health care plans. Now that Palin is headed to Texas to campaign for Gov. Rick Perry in his re-election bid, the campaign manager for Perry's rival Kay Bailey Hutchison is alleging that a top Perry aide used the very same term during a recent conference call. Terry Sullivan, Hutchison's campaign manager, told CNN that Perry consultant Dave Carney dropped the "R" word repeatedly during a recent planning call between the three gubernatorial campaigns to walk through logistics for their Jan. 14 debate in Denton. The third candidate in the Republican primary is former Wharton County GOP chairwoman Debra Medina. According to Sullivan, Carney became "bombastic and agitated" when he learned that one of the candidate holding rooms would be in a separate building from the debate venue. (Perry's team eventually got the holding room they wanted.) "That's just retarded," Carney said when he learned about the holding room location, according to Sullivan. "That's the most retarded thing I've ever heard." Sullivan said Carney used the word once again minutes later as the camps discussed how the debate footage would be used after the forum. A spokesman for Perry did not respond to a request for comment on the call, nor did an aide to Palin, who is heading to Texas on Sunday to appear with the governor. The executive producer of the debate, Rick Thompson of public television station KERA, would not comment on the conference call, telling CNN that "all pre-debate discussions and negotiations are confidential." Sullivan said he was not under the impression that the call was confidential. Palin, whose youngest son Trig has Down Syndrome, wrote on her Facebook page Monday that the word "retarded" is "a slur on all God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities." She said Emanuel's use of the term, first reported in a Wall Street Journal article, was "unacceptable" and "heartbreaking." Man on Man we have ALL made mistakes in our lives at one time or another, I think forgiveness is the way to go here, just my opinion What really bugs me the most is Palin seems to be using this more as a political statement for her party. Well sadly, it appears Perry's top aide has used the R word as has Bush in the past, were they fired? Where is the outrage from Palin about that? Our kids are NOT political they are our hearts and I am with Bob on this if a good can come from a bad then YEA. The man apologized and I am willing to accept it and move on. CC ~
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Post by mollysmomma on Feb 3, 2010 22:35:29 GMT -5
I am just sick over the whole thing...these were suppose to be my guys...Rahm works so hard, and seems so intelligent...a real leader, the go-to guy, the man you want your sons to look up to.
but
If they are both comfortable in using this kind of language...they are not my guys anymore...i wrote a letter to the white house tonight about those feelings.
whats worse?
Rush Limbaugh coming to the defense of the govt he lamblasts daily...they have the RIGHT to use the word!! and then he used it 4 more times, in degrading fashion, to prove his point.
Sooooo the man that boast 100, 000 listeners....and the top two in the white house think that it's ok to speak in this manner.
I'm sick that all of us together could not make a dent in the public damage that happened TODAY, if we had a whole year. Sick that these guys are making it "ok" with the general population to be this "larry the cable guy" ignorant. Sick that THIS is the underlying reason that 90% of these beautiful children do not make it to birth.
Too sick to fight. I'm just so sad.
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Post by wrblack on Feb 4, 2010 6:44:28 GMT -5
Aw jeez, aw jeez, www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_020310/content/01125111.guest.htmlLarry the Cable Guy is less offensive, and funnier, than Limbaugh. Probably more intelligent too. So maybe that's another good thing that could come from this. People, at least some people, will stop listening to Limbaugh. But I'll be thinking of him when I load Charlie on his wheel-chair-lift-equipped short yellow bus this morning. -- Bob
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Post by Ericsmomma on Feb 4, 2010 8:08:55 GMT -5
its amazing that " political hatred " can cause people to say and do the most ignorant things. I think Rush has let his feelings for this administration take over his soul, and it ain't pretty. Even though my beliefs are the polar opposite of this White House, I call them as I see them. Both sides have lost touch with any sense of decency, integrity, and faith. Unfortunetly, the American people are the ones who suffer. They should be ashamed.
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Post by wrblack on Feb 4, 2010 9:11:16 GMT -5
Meanwhile, good, short piece on ABC News, which I missed. Brian Skotko got in a couple of words on the R-word. abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/word--9741742And linguist is right. Danger is ignorant, hateful people will just find another word to convey their ignorance. We need to educate and enlighten. And, IMHO, we don't need to be using our kids to cudgel our perceived political opponents. -- Bob
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Post by Jackie on Feb 4, 2010 10:23:46 GMT -5
Whole thing is now a mess...and even my friends think its all funny...friends? ?...Instead of continuing to make what I thought were inroads educating people to the obvious...I think now people are thinking we parents are just too emotional and it's perfectly ok to make fun of us and our children and anyone else with a disability. Makes you wonder if someone bullied their non disabled child or called them names or hurled derrogatory words at them at school...wouldn't these parents stand up for them? If the term 'R#*#*d' I am sure they wouldn't like it anymore than we dislike hearing it used. Seems to me we are hearing a lot these days about bullies and how kids are being harmed by them...and that's really the same issue. I do wish that while the attention started out with the 'R' word that defenders could now go a step farther and talk about the lives of those with intellectual disabilities...school inclusion and now my pet mission ...decent jobs and independent living options for them. People are listening so now is a good time to pitch these things instead of harping on a single word. IMHO Jackie
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Post by npmarcellino on Feb 5, 2010 8:32:11 GMT -5
Hi everyone, haven't posted in years, but I see Uno Mas is still the wonderful community it was 8 years ago when my daughter was born! I just wanted to post on an issue that is dear to me. When my daughter's IEP code was changed to MR a year or so ago, this issue of labeling really hit home, and I've spent the last year forcing a change in language here in MD and now nationally. I don't consider myself necessarily PC, and even though there are critics who rant about the "word police" I think it's an issue with much deeper implications. When my son testified before the MD legislature about the R word, he summed it up by saying, "what you call people IS how you treat them" meaning that you can't really separate the two. Beyong that, the word retarded is associated with a period of time that is shameful in the way that people with intellectual disabilities were treated, just like the N word is associated with a similar period of time for African-Americans. Memories of forced sterilization and institutionalization are very real for a lot of people. Since we've come so far, and the image of the intellectually disabled has improved so much, we should mark this new era by throwing out the old, offensive word and starting again. But there is still work to do in this regard. And I don't think you'll ever stop the "playground" use of the word, and honestly, it's my experience that most people who use it don't realize that it's the same word professionals use to describe people like my daughter. I don't believe that Rahm Emmanuel hates people with intellectual disabilities or tried to offend them. It's quite obvious that the word has taken on a new meaning in the american lexicon, I'm not sure how people can argue that one. But if we stop professionals from using the word, and detach it from the population, over time it'll lose it's power to hurt and become just another insult, like the words idiot and embecile (both former professional terms). And Jackie, it's so true, while we've got everyone's attention, the time is ripe to talk about other very important issues. Well, that's it, sorry so long winded. If you're in the northeast, happy snow!
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Post by Ericsmomma on Feb 5, 2010 17:14:50 GMT -5
well said np....and yes, it IS HAPPY SNOW TIME here in Ohio.
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Post by kittkatt on Feb 5, 2010 19:03:01 GMT -5
Ummmm, Charlie's dad, just how does one use the word n.i.g.g.e.r. "appropriately?"
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Post by wrblack on Feb 5, 2010 19:51:47 GMT -5
Is that a rhetorical question or an honest question? And aren't you taking that out of context a bit? I wrote, "When I was growing up, which was many, many years ago and in the deep South, I heard the n-word (ProBoards software now changes n.i.g.g.e.r to 'black person') used a lot. And sometimes I heard it used quite appropriately and forcefully by one black person speaking of another black person. But times, and language, change. And sometimes for the better. I think today anyone who uses the n-word immediately identifies him or herself as ignorant and hateful." I believe implicit in what I wrote is that no one, not even a black person, can use that word now. And my point was that I would like to see the r-word, at least retard and retarded as used in vulgar slang, go the way of the n-word.
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Post by Jodi on Feb 5, 2010 20:30:48 GMT -5
I actually did a research project regarding this (among others) offensive word. The true meaning of many words become lost when people begin to use them out of context. That is when the usage of such words becomes abusive. If you look up the word "retard" you will see it means "slow to xxx" as in fire retardant. My son is slower to learn many things, and taking the word in this context I am not offended.
The word is now slang and is used to "put down" people who are not disabled. It is and outright mockery of a group of people who continue to be the butt of jokes and offensive comments because they are easy targets and are not as readily capable of defending themselves. I have heard over and over "I didn't mean it in terms of your son" - yeah, yeah... whatever. So if it is not meant to offend my son, but some one else's son... makes no difference. It is just another form of hatred. JMHO... And - I would like a personal apology from now on. The token calls to the Special Olympics is getting old!
Jodi
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Post by Emilysmom on Feb 6, 2010 8:13:58 GMT -5
I hope it is not offensive to compare the use of the term "n.i.g.g.e.r." to the word "retard". I think both terms have been used over the years in ignorance, and WE can positively impact the way people are treated and talked about...and we should.
I was raised by my grandmother, and in the early 60's I can clearly remember her using the "N" word. She was not a mean-spirited woman who wanted to say derogatory things about the black community. It was what SHE was raised to think was appropriate. What changed her??? Integration. We finally MET and became friends with people who had been the target of that derogatory term. With integration, we learned that the "N" word was mean and hateful and my grandmother immediately stopped using the term. The change in her speech was a result of a change in her attitude!!! I can still remember a time when a neighbor used the term in front of my grandmother, and she told me I could no longer go to that neighbor's house because of their horrible attitude. I can remember becoming very upset with friends at school who used the N word. Slowly...........too slowly.........people realized that it was flat-out wrong to use that word. THAT is my hope with the "R" word too. And it won't happen if everyone continues to act like our words don't matter. What we say DOES matter. And I think we have the right to discuss it publically when a public figure uses inappropriate speech. I do NOT agree that Rahm Immanuel should be fired. Hopefully, he learned something that will help him and others. Although, I think it would be better if the apologies were issued to the general public, rather than to Tim Shriver. Call me naive. But I believe that one person at a time, we can change the attitudes of others.
I am not offended in the least if a health professional or school professional indicates that Emily has mental retardation. Yep! She learns things more slowly. I get that. But the attitude we need to "combat" is when that term is hurled as an insult, such as "that's so retarded" or "you retard".
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