February 4, 2010 9:35 PM
Rahm Emmanuel, the R-word and teachable moments
What About the R-Word? Does It Matter?
Barbara Curtis
Crosswalk.com ContributorTalk about teachable moments. No matter what our political persuasion, to think of a grown-up White House staffer referring to his fellow travelers as "F***ing retarded" should hit a nerve.
And if it doesn't, or if it's only the F-word and not the R-word that gives you the heebie-jeebies, we need to have a serious talk.
If you haven't realized that the R-word ranks right up there with the N-word in the no-no-not-evers for your children, then let me bring you up-to-speed.
Retard -- and the epithet retarded -- are destructive, hurtful, and damaging words. But unlike other such words, each time they are used - even playfully, they hurt hundreds of thousands of innocent people.
Take Jonny, for instance -- my 17-year-old son with Down syndrome. All his life, Jonny has had to work extra hard to learn the things that come easily to others. With a sister just a year younger, he was blessed to spend his early years with someone like a twin, learning to walk and run and swim at the same time. But this year Maddy will earn her driver's license and while Jonny will be thrilled to ride shotgun, he will probably never be able to take the wheel.
Does that make Jonny less of a person than Maddy?
I guess it all depends on your point of view.
Read the rest at Crosswalk.
Posted in Down syndrome, Liberal Hypocrisy, Obama Nation | Permalink
Comments
One of the first things my parents ever taught me
was to treat everyone the same, PERIOD. They also taught me to help others who did not have the same advantages that I had. Basically, do unto others- Is that so old school anymore?
Anyone who uses this kind of speech needs a heart AND a brain transplant.
If this White House Staffer was using his brain-it would've told him to be "politically correct" and be diplomatic, using a better choice of words. Guess he was absent the day that class was taught.
Any CEO addressing a large audience using such vulgarity and cruel speech would have put the nails in his or her (career) coffin.
And yet, this individual represents the highest place of authority in our land-and has standards lower than those used in the corporate world. Sad,and really pathetic.
I guess the administration that was for hope, change and fairness has forgotten what they said they stood for.
Too bad, because it will come back to haunt them.
You always reap what you sow-and you always reap more than you sow.
That's my two cents.
Posted by: Elaine | February 6, 2010 11:34 PM
