That's so retarded

When Air America Radio first launched, they had a great morning drive show called Morning Sedition. I came to really like it, especially because of one of the hosts, Marc Maron. Maron was great, because he had a really good grasp of not just politics but of political humor. That's not to say he was politically correct, as it were. Far from it at times.

One of the things I remember about Maron was that he used the words "retard" and "retarded." A lot. And he often found himself explaining that he felt it was OK to use variations on the word; it's a good word that is really not one that means what it used to. He'd say that it was no longer an accepted (!) term to describe the mentally challenged. Word like, umm, "mentally challenged" or "mentally handicapped" are more appropriate.
I have to sheepishly admit that I like to use the words "retard" and "retarded." I realize that some people consider these to be offensive. And most dictionaries flag them as such. I can understand that. Sort of. But I agree with Maron that after a time, when words are no longer used in their old way, they can be reclaimed and re-christened. He and I both want to see retarded and retard get a new life.

What even made me waste 20 minutes writing about this was my drive home from Madison last night. It was really foggy, and people were adjusting their driving accordingly. But not everyone. There was the one clown who decided keeping it under the 55mph speed limit was too conservative, so he passed three cars at once on a curved part of a two-lane highway. "You're retarded!" I muttered as he zipped around and almost went off the road in the process. A while later, I came up behind a few cars that were all stuck behind someone plodding along at 15mph. This driver was constantly tapping his brakes, as if to alert the several cars behind us that he was there and that we shouldn't get too close. "What a retard," I thought.

It's just a fun-sounding word. Say it out loud: Retard.

I suppose I'm a hypocrite. If I were a teacher, I would probably admonish kids who say "That's so gay," when referring to something that they don't like. Fact is, calling something gay these days, if you are a 6th grader, is less about homosexuality and more about being different. But that doesn't mean it's a an acceptable use of the word, since it suggests being different -- or being gay -- is a bad thing. The same should hold true for calling something retarded. I gave that some thought last week when I called our puppy, Bsoco, retarded in front of a friend who was visiting. She has a brother with Downs Syndrome. Who was in the next room. She didn't say anything... or even react. But I probably turned a bit red and rightly so.

If I am in your presence and declare something to be retarded, or call someone a retard, don't be offended. But feel free to look at me with a measure of disdain and say, "Ya know, that is so gay." We all need to be put in our place now and then.

Comments

[Madge aka Meg Klawiter]

I have been telling people lately, when they ask what I do, that I am currently working with 'angry tards'. PC translation is young people with autism who have behavior difficulties as well. There is lots to catch up on. I love your web-site!! And reading it made me miss the hell out of the two of you and your ever changing menagerie more than I had even stopped to consider. I love having the visuals of your home and the animals...