Hingsburger on ‘R-word’: ‘Tremble when you say it’
August 24th, 2010Disability advocate Dave Hingsburger uses Jennifer Aniston’s recent gaffe (calling herself a “retard” during a televised interview) as an opportunity to examine the word’s implications in modern society. His conclusion: The word is an unacceptable attack on a group of people who have historically been marginalized, stigmatized and oppressed. An excerpt:
The people who ‘ARE’ what the ‘R’ word refers to have a long history.
They have been torn from families and cast into institutions.
They have been beaten, hosed down, over medicated, under nourished, sterilized, brutalized, victimized.
They have been held captive, have been enslaved, have had their being given over to the state.
They are the group in society most likely to be physically, sexually and financially abused.
They are the group least likely to see justice, experience fair play, receive accommodation or support within the justice system.
… The ‘R’ word is an attack on a people who know discrimination. Tremble when you say it. Because those who should know better will be held accountable to those who know best.
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August 25th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Have been an avid reader of Mr. Hingsburger for a few years now. I would recommend going back through the archives for more of the same posts like the one above. He is also a wonderful presenter/speaker; go see him if he is in your area! He is very gracious and generous of his time after the presentations as well…
August 24th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
It’s one of the best things I’ve read. Period.
August 24th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Well said. I recommend that readers click on “Dave Hingsburger” in the piece and read in its entirety what he wrote. It won’t take the reader long. It’s one of the best things I’ve read all day.