If I called anyone 'Mentally Retarded' in an offensive manner, DUers would slam me big time!

[LynneSin]

Just because someone does it to a Tea Party group doesn't make it any less offensive.

[uppityperson]

1. click on the alert if it happens.

[LynneSin]

2. I already did - from what was on the DU home page

It's like we're celebrating a guy and chastising Geico because this guy used that phrase.

[uppityperson]

3. I see what you mean.

"RELATED STORY... retarded people upset at being called TEABAGGERS... claim "we're not THAT retarded""

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. It's against DU rules.

That doesn't mean all DUers have a problem with it in other contexts.

[KamaAina]

5. That is a rank insult

to people with intellectual disabilities, many of whom demonstrate far superior knowledge of current events than your garden-variety teabagger.

[bobbolink]

26. Not to mention have a whole hell of a lot more HEART and affection

than most of what passes for "progressive".

Give me a Downs Syndrome kid anyday to intellectual liberalism!

[Nikki Stone1]

6. Especially when "Astroturf" is the proper word: Dick Armey, Freedomworks, Fox News

It's all about controlling and directing very real anger from foreclosures and bankruptcies into a media circus controlled by the GOP elites.

[uncle ray]

7. but we wouldn't harass your employer until you got fired.

[no limit]

8. I wouldn't. I'm not the word police. But you are right, many here would

because they got nothing better to do than to get angry over stupid shit.

[Odin2005]

9. Same thing with accusing them of being mentally ill.

I get sick of people confusing a sane people brainwashed by BS with actual mental illness, it's a terrible, bigoted attack.

[bobbolink]

28. BINGO

There is just as much bigotry here... it is just a different flavor.

People like to find ways to look down on others.

So, never be an OTHER.

:hi:

[redqueen]

31. Thank you!

[tavalon]

10. I call them intellectually challenged

Is that the same thing?

[bvar22]

11. I agree.

bvar22--
Proud Member of the "Fucking Retarded" Wing of the Democratic Party.

[condoleeza]

12. When did mentally retarded become an "INSULT"?

My husband w/ADD is "retarded", I have PTSD, I guess I am "retarded". Neither of us can do anything else about this but we can and have learned ways to cope with our deficits and challenges and quite frankly, I see no problem with the word retarded. From my life experience, being over 60, I'd say we are all retarded in one way or another.

Why is this term now considered so offensive that it should even be news now for a voice actor losing his job. and why are you so reactionary to this?

[EFerrari]

13. About 30 years ago. n/t

[condoleeza]

14. Yeah, well, it's sad that being "politically correct" has overtaken rationality. n/t

Edited to add:

My husband's whole family is ADD and has genetics that have apparently led to an autism spectrum dx for his nephew and that is sad and that is life and none of us think this nephew is hopelessly w/o the ability to learn, but he truly is a challenge. My PTSD is a result of real life experiences and I will always be reactionary but I can deal with it and am grateful to know that I am responding normally to an abnormal situation and I don't care if I am considered retarded, it doesn't define me, so it shouldn't define the poster on this thread, IMO. We are who we are, love yourself.

[EFerrari]

15. PC is usually just what right wingers call common courtesy

as far as I can tell.

[Bluebear]

18. "politically correct" = right wing complaint that they can't say whatever the hell they want.

[fishwax]

20. it hasn't "overtaken rationality"

though it has angered conservatives who cling to the right to be insulting.

[LynneSin]

16. 'Mentally Retarded' is not an insult when used to define someone who happens to be retarded

although I suppose there are more correct words to use. I think Learning Disable is the preferred word.

But when you define a group of people 'Mentally Retarded' who are not retarded but happen to not agree with your political viewpoints (or other viewpoints) then we're just being insultive.

[condoleeza]

21. Apples and Oranges, Lynn

I choose not to focus on words as much as actions. None of us live in a bubble, I've been walking a fine line where I live during a recall attempt for a man who could fire my husband if I were tracked to any comments I've made. It's just stupid that this voice talent is being fired because he has an opinion. Lesson learned for him.

[EFerrari]

23. It's not the opinion that got him fired but the language.

When you are being paid to communicate, you're expected to know how to do that without gratuitously offending the public. There are language requirements in every similar job.

[Zywiec]

29. PTSD could be considered offensive soon

Since you have it, just tell us you don't like the term, and then common courtesy will dictate we change our vocabulary.

Any suggestions for a new word? We are forced to call it whatever you want it, or we won't be progressive.

:hi:

[lumberjack_jeff]

36. First, neither ADD nor PTSD have anything to do with mental retardation.

Second, I don't think it's accurate to call them retarded. They should be called Italians. Teabaggers are all just a bunch of stupid Italians.

What? It's just a word! In fact, it's a generally accepted word for people from Italy! Why so reactionary?

[BoneDaddy]

17. Christ, this is the realm

of the stupid and offended. Time to fucking grow up people

[EFerrari]

19. Be the change you want in the world.

lol

[BoneDaddy]

24. yeah, I hear ya

but the power given to the minute is amazing in this place.

[jillan]

27. No - you need to grow up. Retarded is as hurtful to those with disabilities as any other word used

to describe any other group of people.

They want it stopped, unfortunately their voices aren't as strong as other groups.

[cadmium]

32. That is true. That States of Massachusetts and New

Hampshire have even renamed their departments of mental retardation to department of developmental disabilties.

Got to stop using that word as an insult.

[cadmium]

33. That is true. That States of Massachusetts and New

Hampshire have even renamed their departments of mental retardation to department of developmental disabilties.

Got to stop using that word as an insult.

[cadmium]

34. That is true. That States of Massachusetts and New

Hampshire have even renamed their departments of mental retardation to department of developmental disabilties.

Got to stop using that word as an insult.

[jillan]

35. Thank you :)

[BoneDaddy]

37. Of course it is

but do we want to raise a generation of "offended" people or resilient ones?
Sure it is offensive if you take it as such. But the point is we can't legislate morality. That is done through experience. I have worked with many of the disabled and what they dont want is victimhood. NEVER. So let's not encourage it.

[jillan]

38. Bullshit - they want people to stop using the R word - there is a whole movement to do so.

http://www.r-word.org/?gclid=CNjU4qSpnqECFQHX5wodgHZTzQ

Maybe you should pledge.

And there's this -
http://www.lifewithoutlimits.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=5902.0#1

Maybe this community is sick and tired of being made fun of. I work with special adults & THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE LABELED any more than any other group of citizens.

[BoneDaddy]

39. You are missing my point

Certainly we can encourage that people be treated well, regardless of disability. But it is time to grow up and realize that there are not kind people in the world. So the lesson isn't "be offended", the lesson should be "rise above it". Let's not raise a bunch of babies but rather adults. Instead of being "offended", take back the word. Is it insensitive, yeah probably, but people have a choice in how they choose to respond. I would rather choose the more empowering choice.

[condoleeza]

22. Love his response

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAB0-0Vbff0

He looks just like my husband - who knew??? He's going to be huge, probably the best mistake he ever made.

[LWolf]

25. That's true. nt

[cadmium]

30. It has become

an insulting term and indefensible. We need to stop using it. That doesnt mean that the Geico guy was wrong in general -- I understand he is British and maybe using retarded as an insult isnt quite so self-defeating there. Marc Maron, Rahm Emmanuel and no Geico guy have used term as insult and totally sabotages the point were trying to make. If you want to get your message across its a good idea skip the word "retarded" as an insult. It is like the N--word to families of people with developmental disabilities. Calling teabaggers jerks would just work as well.