The 'R-Word' Returns, Dismaying Those Who Fought to Oust It

[douglas9]

Late last month, a woman posted a photograph on social media of a purple hat she had knitted, while a black-and-white dog lounged on the carpet a few feet away. The cozy scene was accompanied by a single sentence: “This hat is an hour behind schedule thanks to influencer retards.”

The proud knitter, Harmeet K. Dhillon, is also the assistant attorney general overseeing the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Her purview includes protecting the rights of people with intellectual disabilities by ensuring compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

For decades now, the “R-word” has been regarded as a slur against people with intellectual disabilities — a word to be avoided. Yet it has had a striking resurgence, in part because people in high-profile positions of power and influence have chosen to resurrect it, often with an air of defiance.

“The word ‘retarded’ is back,” the popular podcaster Joe Rogan declared in April, describing its return as “one of the great culture victories.” He did not respond to requests for elaboration, but there is abundant evidence to support his muscular declaration.



https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/us/r-word-slur-disability.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HVA.PofO.N3tKs7St3Rm3

[Scrivener7]

1. How many hundreds of thousands of men get their opinions from a dipshit who thinks a slur is a cultural victory?

[underpants]

2. We're reverting back to teenage boys in the 80's

and I was one of them.

[tanyev]

3. Sarah Palin was (rightly) outraged when Rahm Emanuel said it in 2010.

Surely she’s furious with all the right wingers using it now! Any fightin’ words from her lately?