Great commentary. I don't particularly like the word "retarded", but the problem isn't the word - it's the denigration of the person. Until we deal with the attitude that treats such challenged children (and adults) differently from others, people will just come up with another slur. (I am a retired pediatrician - children with Down's syndrome are among the happiest and kindest children ever!)
I think Jonah Goldberg has it right when he says a lot of the speech policing/cancel culture stuff could be handled by just saying (slightly paraphrased) “have some manners and don’t be a rude jerk”. Or, even better, there was other Jewish guy whose name is escaping me at the moment that said something about treating other people the way you would want to be treated.
I have a 36-year-old daughter and appreciated how well this was written. I do not like to refer to her as downs syndrome, when a description is needed, but I never remember a good, non-negative word to use. It is so sad to see the percentage that are aborted, where the families never get the blessing of that spirit. It is so bad I read that Iceland has no such births.
Language over time changes. Words and meanings change all the time. We allow ourselves to become over sensitive to what is being said. By trying to control how one expresses themselves we are trying to control thoughts. But what we do not realize is that when we try to limit expression, we are also trying to limit growth as an individual and as a society. When we are allowed to express ourselves freely, we are also allowing ourselves to be able to examine our true feelings and make good choices in our actions. Which is better, to express ourselves verbally and see it as wrong thinking and making corrections or to express ourselves through actions and then make an assessment? By trying to limit verbal expression we are allowing the truly bigoted to hide in plane sight. Their thoughts go unchallenged by those around them and thus limit their ability to grow beyond it. We only fear that others will join them.
Very well put. I have a feeling that "neurodivergent" might get turned into a slur and replaced by a newer, supposedly better term. And this cycle could go on forever.
Worth also mistakenly gets tied to ability. A child who can never be independent is still a child. A person that can never hold a job is still a person. Worth is intrinsic and God-given. If we could change hearts & minds, DS kids wouldn't be aborted and the chronically ill wouldn't be fodder for M.A.I.D. in Canada.
Great commentary. I don't particularly like the word "retarded", but the problem isn't the word - it's the denigration of the person. Until we deal with the attitude that treats such challenged children (and adults) differently from others, people will just come up with another slur. (I am a retired pediatrician - children with Down's syndrome are among the happiest and kindest children ever!)
I think Jonah Goldberg has it right when he says a lot of the speech policing/cancel culture stuff could be handled by just saying (slightly paraphrased) “have some manners and don’t be a rude jerk”. Or, even better, there was other Jewish guy whose name is escaping me at the moment that said something about treating other people the way you would want to be treated.
there aren't many places where i approve of use of the f word, but that was one of them. i might even add "with a rusty rake".
I have a 36-year-old daughter and appreciated how well this was written. I do not like to refer to her as downs syndrome, when a description is needed, but I never remember a good, non-negative word to use. It is so sad to see the percentage that are aborted, where the families never get the blessing of that spirit. It is so bad I read that Iceland has no such births.
Language over time changes. Words and meanings change all the time. We allow ourselves to become over sensitive to what is being said. By trying to control how one expresses themselves we are trying to control thoughts. But what we do not realize is that when we try to limit expression, we are also trying to limit growth as an individual and as a society. When we are allowed to express ourselves freely, we are also allowing ourselves to be able to examine our true feelings and make good choices in our actions. Which is better, to express ourselves verbally and see it as wrong thinking and making corrections or to express ourselves through actions and then make an assessment? By trying to limit verbal expression we are allowing the truly bigoted to hide in plane sight. Their thoughts go unchallenged by those around them and thus limit their ability to grow beyond it. We only fear that others will join them.
We can still call AOC stupid though, right?
Amen.
Very well put. I have a feeling that "neurodivergent" might get turned into a slur and replaced by a newer, supposedly better term. And this cycle could go on forever.
Worth also mistakenly gets tied to ability. A child who can never be independent is still a child. A person that can never hold a job is still a person. Worth is intrinsic and God-given. If we could change hearts & minds, DS kids wouldn't be aborted and the chronically ill wouldn't be fodder for M.A.I.D. in Canada.