Someone was posting about all the awful things happening in California. The economy, its got all sorts of drought and wildfire and other problems, it's just not such a hot place right now, is it? And now the Prop 8 thing.

So I have come to a conclusion.

Much as I like to 'reclaim' Christianity and try to be as vocal about it as possible, that yes, you can be be liberal AND Christian, I think I should reclaim something else the fundies tried to steal (like they are trying to steal Jesus -- or is that kidnapping?) ANYWAYS.

God is punishing California because it won't treat people equally and fairly. Once California gets its act together, then fortune (or God) will smile upon California again, the economy will be robust, nature will stop having a hissy fit, and everything will be peachy.

As a counterpoint, Iowa had gay marriage, banned it, we got floods, we got tornadoes, we reversed it, and we had far less flooding and far fewer tornadoes than last year. Furthermore, our economy isn't sucktackular.

Clearly, even God wants equal rights for all. Duh.

I'll put the abstract on the bottom, as I think it is distracting.
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“Don't get retarded with me, answer your phone!”

“Why are you giving me detention, that's retarded!”

“Those shoes make you look like a retard.”

Day in, and day out, people use the word retarded as an insult. The reality is, every day, people have to live with the medical diagnosis of mental retardation ("Intellectual Disability / Mental," 2005). They deserve more respect than to be reduced to a disparaging term in the streets, on playgrounds, in offices. They are human beings who are the target of much discrimination, and deserve more respect than what they have been given. To use this word in a derogatory manner can be just as harmful as using the word “gay” as an insult – just ask the mothers of two eleven year old boys how harmful that can be, those two boys in two different states, on two different days, that hung themselves when they were called “gay” over and over again (Blow, 2009).

Every day, people with developmental disabilities are denied many rights and privileges we take for granted. We can choose our chores at home, when we can have visitors or get phone calls. Some in group housing don't get that luxury, according to Caren Durnst, a supervisor in a group-housing setting. We can chose our own job, and work for a decent wage. Those deemed disabled enough to qualify for certain benefits needed to live independently can only work for limited amounts of money, or they loose their support network; in fact, they aren't even allowed to have more than meager savings("SS Resources," 2009). Those who work in 'sheltered workshops' can legally be paid less than minimum wage (Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 2009). They can be put into classrooms isolated from their peers, denied access to classes they might enjoy,and discouraged from real academic pursuits ("Program Criteria: Special," n.d.). In Bertha, MN, a thirteen year old autistic boy was forbidden by the courts to go to Mass at his local Roman Catholic Church. When his mother got in the car to take him, the county Sheriff met her to tell her that she would be arrested if she took her son to Mass (Pabst, 2008). Perhaps the worst of all, some are denied medical care (U.S. Public Health Service, 2001, p. 28). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists even has guidelines as to under what circumstances you can sterilize a disabled person (“Sterilization of Women”, 2007 p. 2).

Despite all this, many people with developmental disabilities and cognitive difficulties live full and independent lives. They work, they play, they love, they marry (Kaufman, 1988/1999 ). They do what they can despite their intellectual limitations. So what do you mean when you call something retarded? It works hard? It struggles and tries its best to overcome obstacles? If you call someone a retard does that mean they are someone who works hard in school even without the support they need? Probably not.

The current campaign, “Change the Conversation” (The R-word, n.d.), makes us all too aware how much those who are mentally retarded understand what is meant when it is used as an insult. They have a voice, and they are speaking clearly. If anyone uses the excuse that “they” don't care if it is used as an insult, “they” do. For people without cognitive difficulties why is it so hard to understand how people with MR (mental retardation) feel about it?

When you use a word like this, you objectify people. “Retards” aren't people anymore. They're objects. They are no longer human (Special Olympics and the Center for Social Development and Education, Gallup Organization, Research and Evaluation Services of Northern Ireland, & Center for Survey Research, n.d.). It builds up, and gets easier and easier to toss those words around. The less important you think it is, the more affected you've been by that word. The less important we all think it is, the easier it is to discriminate and abuse those who are developmentally disabled. It's easier to deny them a seat in a science class, or not give them a chance in the workplace. Why? Because we've reduced the to sub-human level, and do not have to treat them like we'd treat a 'normal' person. The more the “r-word” is used, the more degraded they are, and the more acceptable it is to treat them like so much garbage.

Using this kind of language is poor English, period. Those who use that word risk the look of looking uneducated, lower class, cruel, and unsophisticated (Bendersky, 2009 ). Studies show that even children look down upon peers who use the word, even if they are not willing to speak out(Harris Interactive, Special Olympics Global Collaborating Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston, & Special Olympics, n.d.). Using those words makes a bad impression.

Those words used in the wrong context hurt a lot of people. First of all, the person being called retarded, whether or not they are, knows what the name-caller means by it. Those who are experiencing those disabilities can feel hurt too (The R-word, n.d.) . There is also pain to those who love them, who feel protective of their family and friends. Doesn't everyone feel protective of those they love? Those that use the word become bullies, picking on those who they perceive as inferior to them. They can only see their privileged world view where the only way to live is as a 'normal' person with no disabilities, no problems (Byrne, 2000, pp. 45-72). To them, the only life worth living is one without “being retarded”.

There are plenty of reasons not to use “the R-Word”. Think for a minute of one very simple one. Every time that word is used in front of me, personally, I die a little inside. I am wounded by the words of people who think my son, the light of my life, is a person of less value than anyone else. So please, don't use words that describe very real people as insults.




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This is my bibliography/references/works cited for the Using the Word Retarded is Gay paper.

Remember this is an assignment for a comp class, to show that I know how to format an APA paper. So it may be kind of dry. And assignment-y. And not very detailed, I don't think. If I didn't have to cite stuff I would have elaborated more on what I found out, but I really REALLY hate doing this, especially for this class.

I'd like to rewrite it as an essay or post or something. More free-form, elaborate on some points more, leave some stuff out, more emotion. (Although the end of this was sort of cheesy emotional because I couldn't figure out how the hell to end it.)

Oh yeah and it looks like formatting didn't stay, which is fine. It was double spaced courier.

P.S. those of you who are childfree and female and having trouble getting sterilized? You might want to read that thing from the ACOG at the bottom of the list. It touched a bit on respecting the wishes of the patient and all that. Might be useful (or not) in your endeavors.

Anyways, references:
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Has something to say, negative, every time she sees me in someone else's journal.

I have made a point of not interacting with her. I have told her that I will not engage, especially in private journals.

Now, someone had a sex filter, posted about sex, I posted something rather benign (about using ASL in bed HOLY SHIT DAN AND I SIGN BECAUSE WELL WE HAVE A NON VERBAL CHILD) and she had to make a remark.

That's the final straw -- I can't converse freely in front of her without her being a freaky stalker.

I hate to do this but I am going to have to remove everyone on my flist that is friends with her, because I don't need to keep a list in my mind on journals in common.

If I can't read and comment in other journals without running the risk of abuse from her, why bother?

I'm really sorry, but I have to do this. It's not fair that I have to be stalked like this. LJ, at the end of the day, is for me. My entertainment, my enjoyment, my stress relief. I shouldn't have to hide and avoid it.

PUBLIC, FOR NOW, SO THE PEOPLE I HAD TO DEFRIEND CAN SEE THIS. Sorry, guys.

BTW, you can find me on Facebook, I spend a decent amount of time there.

What a bunch of litigious bastards!

(from this story.)

Googlebombs away!

This post made me happy, and I want photos here of marriages or any other ceremony that is close (for those who cannot have legal ones where they live).

I want to see the diversity of love EVERYWHERE.

Show me a photo of a couple in love.

Your own, or find one. Find me the joy of saying "I do, I will, forever and ever and ever."

(Meaning the photos were happy. The whole prop 8 thing still sucks.)

"I really hope the LHC sends us into an alternate universe, one where there is no emo." (During a conversation when the local radio station was playing 80s music and he said he wanted it to be like that. Not like the 'emo crap' they have today.)

THIS IS THE INTERNET'S PURPOSE.

http://syndicated.livejournal.com/wondermark/99218.html

For a reason!!

DarkAngelMetalWorks Says Visit ETSY TEAM MSIA AT: http://metalsmithsinaction.webs.com/index.htm

So this group has this great artist as a member. I just bought a new bracelet, I have to take a pic of it this weekend and upload it!

• 10:23 I <3 my kid. "It's science. It's supposed to be weird." #

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