by Mj Ferruzza

Created on: November 13, 2007

Again in the PC World of Today calling anyone anything is wrong.
My sister used to call the people around her acting somewhat
idiotic as "dards" or dumb retards. "Dard" had nothing to do with
handicapped people, only an evil description of a person seen
in what would be a stereotypical light of a handicapped person.
The words "retarded" or "retard" in describing a truly handicapped

person seems discriminatory since it describes a portion of their
disability, defined as 'to be slow or stunted'. Everybody in this
'PC litigious, but behind closed doors bigoted world' lives under
some slang word. Some are humorous, most are venomous.
I don't subscribe to fearing words or epithets used in any context.
I prefer to know what a person is really thinking and how they express
these feelings in written and spoken words, in their own context.
Many a person has hanged themselves for off handed discriminatory
comments, Don Imus and Dog the Bounty Hunter come to mind. I believe
that Dog the Bounty Hunter seems the bigger racist, but Imus paid more
for his incendiary comments. Both were subjected to the court of
public opinion, the same one that allows "N-words" on rap CDs (even
after the supposed truce by the "rap industry") or vulgarities to
seep into family television hour.
If using the word "retard" was generally accepted by the majority,
more power to the minority that found its offense. But who gets punished
for using the word "retard"? Or does it just become litigious?
Now the mentally handicapped or perceived slow can make a
few dollars when some lawyer or greedy relative sees an open opportunity?
Lenny Bruce said "say a word long enough and it loses its meaning".
I reply 'it's not what is said, but how it is said with venom'.
Let the Dards of the world be known that they will have their day.
They are the new political correctness police of this country and will
not be pleased until we all no longer speak to each other unless it is
the dialogue of a Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, or not at all.

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