Who is "Retarded?"

[BOSSHOG]

About twice a month I take paper goods to a facility in town which employs mentally handicapped adults. They recycle the products which help fund their operation. I usually go early in the morning before anyone is there but last Friday I got there about noon and the workers were going through the papers. They are the politest, friendliest, cheeriest, courteous and wonderful people I've ever dealt with. As I was leaving I thought who is "retarded?" Us or them?

[renie408]

1. I don't think you can say that any more.

Which means that WE are the retarded ones because we care more about what you call people than what you do for them.

[terisan]

6. Of couse he can say that. What is impolite is using the term retarded to jeer at people.

If you are able to give work to a decent operation that hires people who are retarded it can be very worthwhile. My brother happens to have down Syndrome and worked at a sheltered workshop assembling pens--until he had a stroke.

The physician who treated him told us that the first thing he said to the physician was that he was afraid he was going to lose his job.

[renie408]

12. Was his job taken away?

If it was, will he be able to work again?

I shop at our local Goodwill and there are several handicapped people working there. My experience with them is similar to that of the OP. I didn't mean to imply at all that work programs involving 'retarded' people weren't a good idea. It was because not long ago I slipped up and used the phrase 'retarded' to describe those same people and was verbally beat up for it by some of my friends.

[terisan]

17. Thanks for asking. He didn't go back to work because he had frontal lobe damage.

that required medication to prevent some aggressive behavior. I think my parents were afraid he might lose control and people wouldn't understand. He had several lonely years because he missed his work and his friends.

However he now lives in a fine group home and goes to recreation program 5 days a week. He has a girlfriend from there who calls him to chat in the evenings.

I use the term mentally retarded --it is part of his official diagnosis. He is mentally retarded. He is also clever, fun, caring, and has a sardonic sense of humor. He likes jazz and I have been trying to find a music teacher to give him music lessons. I never call people mentally retarded who are not and I don't use the term "retard" because it is always used as an insult.

So if you said the mentally retarded people being trained at Goodwill were retarded I certainly not have a problem with that.

I think one of the results of the cheap labor global economy has been the loss of employment for Americans who needed protected work situations.I am sure there are lots of pens being assembled in China. I used to patronize a Waffle House in Atlanta because they hired a guy I knew who had Down Syndrome. They also treated him well.

[yardwork]

31. Your family sounds wonderful.

My sister works with developmentally disabled adults. Some of them have mental retardation as a diagnosis. I agree with you about the outsourcing of labor - another reason it is a bad idea that is harmful to our society.

A healthy society is one that values all its members, not just the ones who fit some marketing ideal of a nuclear family in the suburbs.

[CT_Progressive]

2. I thought this would be a poll with choices of: A-Bush, B-Cheney, or C-All Republicans

I vote C.

[Initech]

5. I think our government in general is retarded.

I came to this conclusion watching the Daily Show last night. Really, there's a war going on, our president is clearly unfit to serve (as evidenced by the "Childrens Do Learn" comment) and our government is more concerned about hip-hop lyrics, advertisements, and pretty much anything else they can get their hands on as distraction to avoid passing the legislation needed to end this fucking mess.

[terisan]

18. I would probably use the terms uncaring, diabolical, blood thirsty, evil for the

warmongering of Bush. For the failure of many in Congress act to end the occupation I might use manipulative, self-serving, weak, cowardly.

As for Bush's language issues-- I've considered uncaring or lazy or brain damaged (and if he was not criticizing others re education I would not hold a disability resulting from brain damage against him---but would not want him to continue in office if it interfered with his ability to do his job.

I don't think any of them are mentally retarded according to the difinition of MR-and I do not want to refer to them as mentally retarded because it is insulting people with mental retardation.

[Initech]

25. Exhibit A:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1952926&mesg_id=1952926

Exhibit B:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3569307

Need I give more explanations as to why I think our government is retarded?

[terisan]

28. Retarded people didn't write that resolution. People who score average and above did.

Like Hitler's SS they are people who are quick witted but who use their intelligence for evil ends.

[Initech]

33. Explain this one: "Childrens do learn".

The Decider said that one. Do you think any intelligent person would ever say anything that stupid? :popcorn:

[hlthe2b]

3. I know what you mean...

I've had some dealings with our non-profits who offer work opportunities for the developmentally and physically disabled. Heavens, it does make one think... Intellectual development certainly includes some very unpleasant baggage in general. Something these people will never manifest.

[madinmaryland]

4. No! Who is on first, and it is probably us that are.

[Alcibiades]

7. What did you expect, drooling and gibbering?

I have a brother with Downs who is profoundly retarded (he actually did drool until he was 13, when he finally learned to keep his tongue in his mouth). I'm not looking for something at which to take offense, but that being said, this comment reminds me a little of O'Reilly's comment about Sylvia's.

Of course retarded people are (for the most part) sweet and wonderful people. I'm glad you've had the chance to discover that about them.

[BOSSHOG]

8. I discovered that a long time ago

And I've known it all along. And I take offense at being compared to O'Reilly, there is no comparison whatsoever. He was blathering out of ignorance, I was sharing a thought that popped into my head as I was driving away from the facility.

[Alcibiades]

19. I didn't compare your comment to O'Reilly's

I just said your comment reminded me of his. I wasn't blathering out of ignorance either, but simply sharing a thought that popped into my head as I read your post.

:pals:

[BOSSHOG]

22. Pals

indeed

[devilgrrl]

9. At what point in time did "retarded" become a pejorative term?

That's what you're implying isn't it? If I were to describe the same situation and stated that many of the people working at the facility as "retarded" would that automatically mean that I was looking down on them?

[BOSSHOG]

10. I have no idea "at what point."

I'm not implying a goddamned thing. I was just fucking sharing a thought that popped into my head as I was driving away from the facility. I'm so fucking sorry I brought it up.

[devilgrrl]

11. Who's retarded?

Perhaps it was the way you stated it - you sanctimonious ass! :nuke:

[BOSSHOG]

15. Perhaps

it was the way you read it. I love those people whether they be called retarded or mentally challenged or whatever you or whomever choose to call them. They are wonderful human beings. It would be great if they posted here.

[devilgrrl]

20. They are wonderful human beings!!!!

They also have a great value to society.

[BOSSHOG]

21. Our exchange

lends weight to my original question. Obviously "smart" humans can be hateful and ugly to one another at the drop of a hat.

[devilgrrl]

26. Then I misunderstood you.

I apologize.

[BOSSHOG]

34. And

I apologize too my Friend. It often is difficult to understand a writer's intent.

[YOY]

It literally means "slow" not "monstrous" nor "stupid"

Just keep that in mind. Yes, they may be "slow" but not inhumanly stupid as the word has come to bear association.

Sad that the word has gained such an association...

[BOSSHOG]

23. Why

would you think I have to keep that in mind? I have worked with mentally handicapped people in the past. I'm well aware of their situation. You are right about the sadness. Sometimes one might be compelled with paranoia - wow should I use that word cause it might offend someone. I think the majority of this thread makes my original question relevant. Obviously us "smart" humans have no problem whatsoever in finding fault with one another.

[YOY]

13. Delete

n/t

[Kajsa]

14. Here's my take on "retarded"

and all those other "innocent" expressions.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Kajsa/2

[KamaAina]

16. Self-advocates have been pushing to get rid of "the R-word" for years

http://www.sabeusa.org/documents/SABE%20Summit%20Statement.pdf

We have told you what is important to us
Get rid of the infamous and hurtful "r" word, do not label us
We will not put up with
The "r" word continuing as part of an organization’s name
even as initials
If you are working with me and for me then do not disrespect me

http://www.aaidd.org/About_AAIDD/MR_name_change.htm

Washington, DC (February 20, 2007)—After almost 5 decades of being called Mental Retardation, this influential journal in special education changed names to Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities under the leadership of Editor Steven J. Taylor. The journal's name change is a microcosm of society's ongoing struggle to find a socially acceptable way of addressing persons with an intellectual disability. The new name comes close on the heels of the name change of its publisher, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, formerly AAMR, the world's oldest organization representing professionals in developmental disabilities.

For all those who ask, "What's in a name?" Dr. Taylor says, "The term intellectual and developmental disabilities is simply less stigmatizing than mental retardation, mental deficiency, feeble-mindedness, idiocy, imbecility, and other terminology we have cast aside over the years." However, Taylor acknowledges that the crux of the issue here goes beyond language and terminology into the deeper issues of inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities in society. He explains, "Anyone who believes that we have finally arrived at the perfect terminology will be proven wrong by history. I am sure that at some future point we will find the phrase intellectual and developmental disabilities to be inadequate and demeaning."

[NMMNG]

24. I've worked for the past 20 years

with adults who have developmental disabilities (MR and various other disabilities). Like everybody else they have a wide range of temperament and personality styles ranging from amazingly pleasant to utterly insufferable. Their biggest barrier is that they have a diagnosis and others don't.

[Parche]

27. Hey Boss

You are a good sailor
Splice the main brace

This is for you...........

:hi:

[Jed Dilligan]

29. The difference between them and most of us:

They love their jobs and the people around them in their lives.

[Mike03]

30. Howard Stern a Bad Influence

I noticed that Howard Stern and his sidekicks would frequently use this term to refer to someone or something extremely unintelligent (i.e., referring to celebrities such as Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan as "Celebretards" or just saying something they had done was "retarded"). I'm old enough to know better, but I must have found this amusing because it crept into my own vocabulary, and I once referred to a question I asked my veterinarian as 'retarded', and that was the first time I'd used it in public rather than in informal conversation with a close relative or friend. At that moment I stopped using it. I saw myself using that word from the perspective of another person, and I began to think, "What if my veterinarian has a challenged child or knows someone who does?" I was really ashamed of myself and stopped using it on the spot.

P.S.

I'm still a Stern fan, but he's not the most sensitive broadcaster.

[uppityperson]

32. People can be slower in many different ways/categories.

Being content with doing a decent job well is a good thing. You don't need high IQ to be humane. You don't need low IQ to be humane. Sometimes worrying too much, too much fear, can lead a person to be inhumane. Indeed.