To Whom It May Concern,
The "r-word" is something used insultingly… but, why? I’ve never met anyone who is “retarded” that is insulting or anything less than the most amazing person I’ve ever met. Now, I’m not going to go on and rant about those people who can’t find any other word to describe a class they dislike, because everyone’s heard that ten thousand times. Instead, I’m going to tell you how it makes me feel when you say that something is the r-word instead of just saying it sucks; more importantly, I'm going to tell you how it makes Grace Climer feel.
Grace is a 14-year-old who some of you would classify under the r-word, but I like to say she’s just got a little more of something special in her than most. When hearing someone I care about or someone I couldn’t care less about use the r-word in conversation, I’m offended either way. I am more offended when it’s someone I care about because I don’t want to call them out for how wrong it is (though it doesn’t stop me). I only say, “Use a different word please," or, “No, r-word please."
Grace, although, wouldn’t feel offended because she sees the world differently than most who are “normal," as the world calls anyone who doesn’t fit under the category of disabled. Grace sees the world with no wrong, no hurt and no bad. I would love to spend a day in my sister’s shoes to know what that feels like. Being 14 years old, 20 surgeries into your life and thinking that the world is as fresh and shiny as before humans messed it up sounds like the life.
My sister probably hears the r-word around her middle school halls and has questions. “What is that?” “What does that even mean?” As if the stares and laughter when she does something that isn’t particularly “normal” isn’t enough, you have to use the word once used medically to describe my sister and millions just like her as something to say when your friend is making a fool of him/herself.
I’ll do you a favor by apologizing to her and anyone reading this who is offended by the r-word and thinks there has to be an end to it. Grace doesn’t realize that you’re using that language because you’re unaware of what it can do to a person. She only knows that it has something to do with her, and that it’s not something good. I feel bad for you because, obviously, you have never gotten the pleasure to meet one of the people who fall under the r-word to realize it doesn't define them. They are instead defined by every amazing thing they do, and will do.
For those who are thinking, why does the r-word even have a negative connotation if the people are so amazing? Well, the r-word tells us that there is something wrong with the people who are described by it, when there is nothing even remotely wrong with them. So, please, when using the r-word to describe Grace and her friends, think twice about how it would make one of them feel to know that there is bad in this world, and that bad is you.
Sincerely,
Buy a thesaurus please
