‘Ban the word’ goes nationwide
March 31st, 2009From the Associated Press:
Across the country, from Florida to Alaska, people rallied and gathered to sign pledges to banish the casual insult term “retard” from their vocabulary. The term derives from an out-of-favor medical term and has long been considered inappropriate. Among those who endorsed the Special Olympics campaign were governors Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, Brad Henry of Oklahoma and Chet Culver of Iowa.
“It’s insulting, it’s painful and it hurts people,” said actor Eddie Barbanell, who has Down syndrome and appeared in the movie “The Ringer.” “Get that word out! End the word! Bury it!”
See also:
Fighting the R-Word — By in the Chicago Tribune
Students want derogatory term for disabled out of conversations — Orange County Register
Opinion: Please quit using hateful R-word — Des Moines Register
Special Oympics seeks to end use of hurtful R-word — KCAL-TV, Los Angeles (with video)

