X-Message-Number: 20325
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 19:07:10 -0700
From: "John Grigg" <>
Subject: The word "retard" in our society...
When I saw the word "retard" in a post subject heading I was taken aback, since
I have always considered it a very cruel term. Out of curiosity I put the word
into a search engine and found a wide variety of websites with different things
to say and show about the impact of the word.
Because sometimes an url just will not work when I would have assumed it would,
I have put the complete texts into my post.
I hope these articles shed some light on what are painful realities for some of
the people in this world.
I had a friend whose older brother was retarded, and I witnessed some things I
did not like.
best wishes,
John
http://www.madprince.com/huntingd.htm
Hunting Disabled
I used to work at the theme park Sesame Place. Sesame Place had a strict policy
of tagging anyone with a mental disability with a bright red wristband. This
policy was made to ensure the safety of the disabled individual.
However, some people with disabilities did not like the idea of being tagged
like an animal before entering the theme park. Sesame Place instituted a few
corporate tactics in order to convince these people the red wrist brand was
worth it. With a red wristband a retard could:
1. Cut ahead of other people in line.
2. Have front-row seats to any theatrical event.
3. Enjoy discount pricing
Sometimes these incentives were not enough, so the Sesame Place Corporation
began a program called "Operation Retard Watch." Employees were instructed on
how to identify signs of retardation. The most often looked for sign was
humorously referred to as "T-21 Eyelids" or "Corky." Some retards were tricky
though and tried to disguise their disability by attempting to look normal. In
these situations Sesame Place employees were instructed to look for sure signs
of mental retardation; stupidity, stuttering, and stench (also referred to as
the three S's).
If all else failed the theme park set up surreal pictures in retard gathering
spots to catch them. These surreal pictures were actually just normal
photographs, but with the caption "Stare closely to see the real picture." If a
person was caught staring at one of these photographs for more than twenty
minutes, guards were nearby, and lock down commenced.
There was also a situation known as "Code Retard." When a retarded person
escaped all of the previously mentioned traps all employees were radioed and
told to look for any retards in the nearby vicinity. In Sesame Place history,
only four "Code Retards" had been called, and two had been false sightings (they
were ugly).
Each Sesame Place employee is equipped with a coil of thick rope stored in their
locker incase of "retard clusters." A retard cluster is when two or more
retards join forces to escape the humilation of wearing a red band. Employees
are instructed to identify any retard clusters, and to immediately use a tactic
known as "smarten up"; separate at least one of the retards from the group with
the western-style hog tie down method. Also known as the "Magical Grover"
maneuver, it involves a complicated procedure of tying down the retard so they
are unable to move until more help arrives.
If everything works out, the retards get their discount pricing and a red
wristband slapped on. This year Sesame Place's has projected almost five hundred
thousand retards will be branded. This figure has increased steadily since
Sesame Place's opening in 1972. It has been projected that in the year 2001, the
total retards branded could possibly reach eight hundred thousand. That would
be a 60% increase from the previous year, and quite a feat for Busch-Gardens,
the company that owns Sesame Place.
It would be surprising if Sesame Place could keep up this track record of
ostracizing certain groups of people. With enough luck, the plans to build a
retard-themed Sesame Place park could ring true. Busch-Gardens plans to open a
"Grover fell on his Head" theme park loosely based on the actual Sesame Place.
"Grover fell on his Head" would be specifically designed for the mentally
retarded and cater to their special needs.
By the year 2010, Sesame Place plans to tag all minorities entering the park. By
doing this Sesame Place will be able to cater to their special needs. Special
facilities will even be built specifically designed for minorities.
Sesame Place continues to innovate the world of theme parks, setting a standard
for all to follow. We can only hope they keep up with their tradition of good
family fun, along with great service. Thanks Sesame Place, I was proud to work
for you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This article originally appeared in Vol. 1 No. 4 (Aug., 1993) of the Facilitated
Communication Digest, [p. 10].
WHY RETARDS ARE SAD IN THIS WORLD
Elana Connor
Sunnyvale, CA
Our daughter Elana was 13 years old when she began communicating with
facilitation. Some of her first words cry out against the world's crude
perceptions and limiting views. Here she transforms an ugly label into a
powerful statement of self affirmation. (Stephen Connor, facilitator and
parent.)
WHY RETARDS ARE SAD IN THIS WORLD
Retards need love just like everyone else who live in this world. Queer people
to bad people treat retards the same. Why do people treat them poorly? They have
love in their hearts like everyone else. Retards beat the man who are beating
them at the same time. Why do people treat retards bad? Are they afraid? They
are afraid retards eat them. They are afraid retards hurt, eat and will kill
them. Eat, eat, eat! Retards will eat them. Queer people to bad people will
question me about this. World needs retards. Yes! Retards, retards, retards! You
can say it, too. Retards. Go ahead and say it. Go ahead and shout the word.
Retard is who I am.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following article can be found at...
http://banners.valuead.com/specificpop/Expedia/Site26.html
The Bottom Line Is it time for an attitude check? Read my comments and decide
for yourself.
Retard.
What does that mean?
In our increasingly pluralistic society where prideful man continues to flaunt
his rebellion against God and the absolutes that make the world around us exist,
this refusal to recognize the value of standards and rules has passed over into
the English language as well.
Back in a few centuries, the word gay used to mean happy. In the early 1900's,
it was adopted as the equivalent of the today's word "cool". In the late 1970's
and early 80's, in an attempt to offset the alarming statistics of depression,
alcoholism, drug abuse, and suicide within the homosexual community, the word
"gay" was again redefined to brighten up the image of the homosexual.
Recently, the word "gay" has made a full circle to be used as the word queer
(also used at one time to describe homosexuals) used to be tossed around in the
1970's- meaning stupid, idiotic, or really bizarre.
So it is with the word "retard". What used to be the term for a person who was
deficient in certain mental capabilities and did not know any better, is now
used in the opposite manner to describe those who do really stupid things and
SHOULD KNOW BETTER.
For the sake of making my point in this editorial, I use the word "retard" in my
title in reference to the original meaning- those who really do not have the
abilities to process or perform like the higher strata of society and really do
not know better.
WHY IS THIS IN THE EPINIONS SECTION?
Recently, Epinions has gone through another political evolution. People have
been shuffled around from title to title for various reasons, some of them
seemingly oxymorons of what Epinions has maintained its purpose to be.
Some have had numerous titles bestowed upon them, and others have had theirs
taken away for various reasons too numerous to explore.
In my case, I was told quite a few reasons why I am no longer fit to hold an
advisor title in certain categories:
I am too nice.
I left a few comments that could be considered rude by people that do not
appreciate humor. (doesn't that offset the too in "too nice"...?(g))
I spend too much time encouraging new people.
I am not to be trusted because of my trust list- too much power.
Not supposed to have weak people on the trust list.
I encourage people to dumb down.
The list is much longer than this, but I would like to focus on the last
statement about dumbing down.
RETARDS DON'T COUNT
I have had many years in the field of education. I grew up around it and have
been a teacher in many forms since I was quite young. When I was in elementary
school, I was called upon to teach other younger children who could not be
reached by their teachers in class and needed to learn better.
I taught classes to other students in several areas.
I have worked with people most of my life - including people that most others
wrote off with words of criticism and disdain. They just did not measure up.
In addition to this personal experience, I lived with my father, who in my
objective opinion (I am not being facetious here) is one of the very best high
school teachers that his school has ever had the privilege to have.
Being a teacher of a subject that was required by all high school students to
graduate, my father found himself for many years having all students in his
classes. This is true of some teachers, but my father was given a seemingly
impossible task of teaching the mentally handicapped that were being
mainstreamed in the same classes with the gifted students. In addition to this,
he had every other level of student in between also participating in the same
classes.
Although there were some kids who accepted the mentally handicapped students and
tried to encourage them, there were a lot of kids who had the attitude that
"RETARDS DON'T COUNT".
These mainstreamed kids were expected to fit in with the rest of the students
and maintain the same kind of performance level, but the playing field was
anything but level.
Those who took the time to have sympathy with the mainstreamed kids were far
ahead of the others, but the ones who felt that RETARDS DON'T COUNT were
constantly putting them down and reminding them that they did not measure up.
Had a few people not stepped in and taken the time to give these mainstreamed
(and very courageous) students higher grades based upon their skill level, and
work with them according to their abilities, these kids would have grown up to
be worthless throw aways and to the shame of those who continually called them
failures, their lives would have been wasted.
Eventually, with the dedication of those they met who were willing to recognize
and focus on their strengths, most of these mainstreams students are now very
productive and well adjusted adults. They all have talents, even though they do
not meet the narrow high standards that those who disregard their importance to
this day, they are amazing people.
RETARDS NOT PERMITTED HERE
This brings me to something I am seeing on Epinions that has been irritating me
for a long time.
When I first came to Epinions back in August of 2000, it was promoted as an all
encompassing community who was just interested in having people's opinions on
products or services that they had owned or used. Those opinions that were
really helpful were rated more highly than the others, but the standards were
pretty good and the information offered by most people was considered to be very
helpful or helpful unless glaringly missing important information.
At that time, everyone was getting paid pretty good money for their opinions on
products, which made it worth while to take the time to write well, so more
people would view your opinion and hence you would get a larger income if you
wrote well.
As time went on, however, less and less compensation was being offered for
people giving up their valuable time to leave their opinions. At last, we have
the situation of today where there are no cents given per member hit. The income
share is volatile and inconsistent. Most months many complain of getting only a
few cents no matter how many reviews they have written.
This brings us to a situation here that is drastically different than it used to
be. No longer are people being rewarded for opinions well written. If they
journey here to this site, they most likely have a product experience that
motivates them to be heard. Usually it is an ecstatic experience they want to
tell the world about, or a horrid one that they want to shout about to anyone
that will listen.
Quite frankly, if someone takes the time to write ANYTHING for Epinions they
should be applauded (beyond the abusive, insulting, or just plain STUPID reviews
that still pop up now and then from underchallenged adolescents-some of them in
adult bodies).
Not everyone who comes to Epinions desires to win the Pulitzer prize. In fact,
most serious writers will not be found hanging around this site for more than a
possible bi-annual visit in a down time with nothing better to do.
In this case, I think it most unfair to slam people because they "do not measure
up to our exceedingly high standards of review writing". Most people are not
interested in wasting their time chasing the brass ring that will always be out
of their reach for no kind of compensation.
Does this mean that they are any less important?
That brings me to another point.
I am increasingly agitated at the condescending and self-righteous attitude that
creeps up among the Epinions "elite". As this site becomes increasingly self
involved, many of us have forgotten that not everyone can read or write very
well.
Do most of us have any idea what courage it takes for some people to sit at a
computer and type out a paragraph that ANYONE IN THE WHOLE WORLD CAN READ????
Not everyone has the confidence, command of vocabulary, mastery of the English
language that you or I may have.
Does that mean that they are any less valuable than we are? Don't their opinions
and experiences as consumers count?
We constantly demand that people write reviews as if the reader does not know
ANYTHING about the product. However, the comments that we so often leave assume
that the writer knows all about Epinions! Shouldn't we write comments -
especially to new people- as if they know nothing about Epinions?
RETARDS WELCOME
It is sometimes difficult when becoming so intimately involved in something as
many of us on this site are, to maintain a proper perspective. This is
increasingly so when a title is placed upon our name. It is human nature to be
besieged by conceit when honor is awarded. It is not easy to remain humble.
However, in this situation on Epinions, I have come to the conclusion that with
the fairness and justice that constantly eludes the Epinions awards committee,
it is foolhardy to think of ourselves too highly.
What is more important? Is it the self esteem of another person who could be
built up and made to feel special so that perhaps they might return to the site?
Or is it our own egos which demand constant stroking and elevating to determine
our own self worth?
It is my belief that building up as many people as possible when I see something
good is more important than stepping on others to gain myself a title, which
will most likely be swiped away suddenly at any time again.
When I rate people, I offer them a freedom of choice. If they desire to achieve
a better review, then I give them suggestions. If they decide that they are
happy with their accomplishment, then I applaud their efforts. To those that do
not like that, well, too bad. People are too valuable to be constantly put down
and discouraged. There is enough of that wherever you look in the world.
I have seen too many people get destroyed by the "elitist" attitude of others on
this site- some of which I suspect were very slow in their abilities and
desperately needed support of others. I, for one, will not contribute to this.
IN CLOSING
Does my use of the word "retard" bother you? I hope so. It was intended to. You
see, that is the way that many of the people on Epinions come across when they
treat others with "inferior" reviews to low ratings with no comments, or with
condescending comments because the reviewer "does not measure up".
That is the attitude that comes through when Epinions declares that no one can
be a leader when they have "weak" people on their trust list.
It was this kind of attitude that when escalated in time has cost many Jews,
black people, Sudanese Christians- the list goes on and on- their lives. The
lives that they deserved an equal chance to live, but could not because "RETARDS
WERE NOT WELCOME THERE".
In the wintertime, it is not uncommon for a beautiful majestic tree to be
murdered. It does not show up until late in the spring, or perhaps even a year
later. Upon closer look, the viewer can see that the one who destroyed this
beautiful life was merely a tiny rodent, possibly a vole or mole. This rodent
persistently gnawed away at the bark of the tree and eventually worked its way
around the entire base.
Unable to get the nourishment the tree needs through its bark, the trees starts
to die. Some weather the damage, but many do not.
It is those little things that creep in that do the most damage.
We have a choice. We can choose the attitude that will encourage life to others,
or that which will destroy and kill their enthusiasm and motivation.
I choose life.
What will you choose?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gallery of Retards
http://www.sickopath.com/gor.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Retards Anonymus
http://www.htmlpublishing.com/html/socu/raisok/
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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