Spread the Word to End the Word
The world uniting against the use of the R-word
posted over 10 years ago
Today may be coming to a close, but today is annual awareness of Spread the Word to End the Word. What might this be? It's a campaign to completely abolish the R-word (if you can't think of what it is from that, it's often used as an insult meaning stupid) and replace it with Respect.
Besides that every human deserves equal respect, regardless of any disabilities, this is a very important cause to me for two personal reasons. Years ago, I had a brother born by C-section who died within a couple of weeks. Had he survived, he would have had Down-syndrome. A world where people who have judged him simply because of that is not the world that he, or anyone else, deserves.
In addition to him, I have a cousin who is one of the most amazing people I know. She has Down-syndrome, yet she has accomplished more than many people who are "normal" have, including being a cheerleader at a Redskins' game, deadlifting 200+ pounds, and winning multiple national cheerleading events with her team. She loves everyone for who they are, no judgement, but she'll get sarcastic if need be. She has emotions, hopes, dreams, same as everyone else.
And it's not only the people with Down-syndrome who are described with a term that's synonymous with "inferior" and "stupid", yet speaking to a "normal" person like this would receive scorn. Why have these people become animals to so many? The R-word isn't even a clinical term anymore. This has nothing to do with being politically correct, this has everything to do with treating everyone with kindness and respect.
While the cause is far from a solution, every step counts. Read some of the stories from people who have taken the pledge, then tell me these people aren't just as "good" as the people who don't have intellectual disabilities. If you're interested, take the pledge yourself. It doesn't cost anything but a promise. http://www.r-word.org/
Thank you for reading, I wish you all luck with midterms, and look forward to the day where this needless discrimination can end.
Philip
Besides that every human deserves equal respect, regardless of any disabilities, this is a very important cause to me for two personal reasons. Years ago, I had a brother born by C-section who died within a couple of weeks. Had he survived, he would have had Down-syndrome. A world where people who have judged him simply because of that is not the world that he, or anyone else, deserves.
In addition to him, I have a cousin who is one of the most amazing people I know. She has Down-syndrome, yet she has accomplished more than many people who are "normal" have, including being a cheerleader at a Redskins' game, deadlifting 200+ pounds, and winning multiple national cheerleading events with her team. She loves everyone for who they are, no judgement, but she'll get sarcastic if need be. She has emotions, hopes, dreams, same as everyone else.
And it's not only the people with Down-syndrome who are described with a term that's synonymous with "inferior" and "stupid", yet speaking to a "normal" person like this would receive scorn. Why have these people become animals to so many? The R-word isn't even a clinical term anymore. This has nothing to do with being politically correct, this has everything to do with treating everyone with kindness and respect.
While the cause is far from a solution, every step counts. Read some of the stories from people who have taken the pledge, then tell me these people aren't just as "good" as the people who don't have intellectual disabilities. If you're interested, take the pledge yourself. It doesn't cost anything but a promise. http://www.r-word.org/
Thank you for reading, I wish you all luck with midterms, and look forward to the day where this needless discrimination can end.
Philip
(edited over 10 years ago)
