Really? Are We That Thin-Skinned?

[babylonsister]

Really? Are We That Thin-Skinned?
By David Harsanyi


White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is notoriously profane and uncouth. So it's not surprising that The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Emanuel had referred to some congressional Democrats as "retarded" in a private meeting with strategists. This has sparked a national kerfuffle.

Who can quarrel about the word "retarded" in this context? It is obnoxious and unnecessary. We should do our best to avoid it. After all, our goal as Americans must be to offend the guilty (some congressional Democrats) without dragging the innocent (the mentally disabled) into the fray.

But what was even more disturbing than finding out that political hacks use demeaning references in private assemblies? It was watching those who usually complain about political correctness dig deep for some of their own artificial outrage and begin playacting the victim.

Do conservatives really believe that an impolite utterance in private should be a firing offense? To begin with, the word "retard," unlike many other purposefully disparaging words, has legitimate meanings beyond insult. An example? Rahm Emanuel has a severe case of ideological retardation.

What is this guy supposed to do now, anyway? Emanuel apologized to the mentally disabled. He sincerely apologized to the mentally disabled. He apologized to the head of the Special Olympics for his remark (and was rejected). He probably apologized to God himself -- and the president, in return, almost surely forgave him.

Emanuel even joined a group whose sole mission is to eradicate the use of the word "retarded" from the English language.

Does intent matter? When a person uses the N-word, without a doubt, he has a very specific subset of the population in mind. He uses it to smear an entire race. When a person drops what henceforth will be known as the R-word -- as many of us did regularly during childhood -- there is no intent to denigrate those with disabilities.

Sarah Palin, whose youngest son has Down syndrome, asked the overwrought question "Are you capable of decency, Rahm Emanuel?" and demanded that the president fire Emanuel, as the word "retarded" is "a slur on all God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities."

So dragging God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities into a political tussle isn't that offensive?

more...

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/02/05/really_are_we_that_thin-skinned_100180.html

[Make7]

1. The title of this article is a slight against those suffering from diseases causing thin-skin.

There are many conditions that can cause thin skin: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Cushing syndrome, Amyloidosis, etc.

I implore everyone reading this to call for David Harsanyi to resign and issue an immediate apology to the people he has offended with his thoughtless comments.
 

[babylonsister]

2. Thank you for educating me on these conditions as I'd never

heard of them before, and I bet David Harsanyi hadn't either.

There's also an expression called 'thin-skinned' that it seems we both are more familiar with.

I'm sure there was no intent to be malicious.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thin-skinned

sensitive to criticism, reproach, or rebuff; easily offended; touchy: a thin-skinned poet.

[Make7]

4. I was not seriously suggesting that using the term 'thin-skinned' was offensive.

I was trying to illustrate that one can find offense in almost anything, if willing to look hard enough. Many times people highlighting the use of some derogatory term in the public arena are also doing so for purposes unrelated to their protestations of the terminology itself. Oftentimes the issue has less to do with being thin-skinned and more to do with what political advantage someone believes can be gained by drawing attention to it.

P.S. I guess I should have put a sarcasm smiley in my last post.
 

[babylonsister]

5. Phew! I SO wanted to call

you thin-skinned, but thought you were serious, and didn't want to be insulting. :hi:

[Make7]

6. LOL. nt

[ceveritt]

7. I'M OUTRAGED ...

... at your use of the word "thoughtless."

Many times in my life I've been tarred and branded (or branded and tarred) with that painful epithet. It hurts my feelings.

Now, when I see the word, or hear it—but especially when I see it—I think the person is talking about ME. ME! ME! ME!

And I take EXTREME UMBRAGE at such remarks.

You have offended me to the core, sir or madam—Yea, cut me to the quick, even. And also. And I shall never forget nor forgive this heinous slight!

Signed,

Not serious in the slightest. I just could not help myself. It's all sarcasmsarcasmsarcasm.

What people won't get worked up over, eh? And yes, I'm referring to myself there as well.

[Tesha]

3. I'm pretty much in favor of *ANYTHING* that gets Rahm fired.

He epitomizes what's wrong with our party and yes, his use of "retarded"
is part of that.

Tesha

[90-percent]

8. I have a question

"From the original post: "The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Emanuel had referred to some congressional Democrats as "retarded" in a private meeting with strategists."

I thought the bro-hah-hah was when Rahm in private was calling the grassroots liberals that ran ads attacking blue dog dems the "fucking retards"?

Whats a good adjective to describe something you consider imbecilic? That would be offensive to no one?

Rahm should go, but not for this. Something said never intended for public consumption should never be held to the same standards as something originally said out in the open - like, say, Rush

-90% Jimmy

[emilyg]

9. On the other hand -

DU relishes tidbits by Levi - that supposedly Palin said in private.

[lib_wit_it]

10. Can someone who, unlike me, got some sleep last night please explain to emilyg why the two

situations are completely different. (Hint em g, it goes to Palin's hypocritical poutrage.)

[emilyg]

11. Don't bother. I see a

double standard daily.

[inna]

12. I can't stand Rahm, but in this case, it was Palin, not Rahm, who

"dragged children with cognitive and developmental disabilities into a political tussle" to score cheap points.

She's absolutely shameless and has no decency whatsoever.


BTW, it is *progressives" who Rahm should apologize to, anyway. :shrug: What an asshole. :grr:

[Demeter]

13. Way to Go, Rahm; Ticking Off an Already Enraged Grassroots

and giving Palin an opening for spewing more insanities.

[BlueJazz]

14. I used to use the term all the time..as in.. "I'm going to retard the timing on my 440 engine."

[garethc2009]

15. Offense

Nowadays, many people seem to make it their lifes work to be 'offeneded' at any little thing.