It's funny, as things continue and as I get more settled into this new life of mine, things change. If you notice my very first Baby Hulk post I wrote down's syndrome. Well, that is wrong sometimes things are named after people who have it and sometimes they are named after the person to discover it. Well this Down guy didn't have it he just stuck his name on his research. Since he doesn't have it, it does not belong to him so no apostrophy S. I'm learning I'm adjusting and I'm changing my mind. I have changed my mind about how I feel about people using the word "retarded" I wrote about it before
here but now I don't even like writing it out it feels so wrong but to get my point across at how absolutely horrible this word actually is I am going to write out another horrible word for you so you can understand what kind of word retarded really is.
Nigger
Did you cringe? I did. Yeah, that word sucks. I've been called that word a few times myself actually! I'm from North Carolina. South of the Mason-Dixon line where racism is still flourishing. Let me just tell you it feels like being punched in the chest when someone calls you a name like that. Sure maybe not if you are white... I had a friend when I lived back in NC, a tiny crazy white girl who threw the "n" word around in the exact same way people throw the "r" word instead of calling someone stupid she called them the "n" word. I had to talk to her about it a few times. She protested, saying she didn't mean it like that, she wasn't talking about me or even about black people. She didn't get it, but she eventually stopped. I am sure she was just censoring herself in front of me to avoid angering me. I actually had a few white friends using the "n" word as a way of calling someone ignorant. I'd like to say after I lectured them they stopped but I think most just censored themselves around me as well. I don't want you to censor yourself around me. This isn't like I am a child and you don't curse around me. This is saying something that is hurtful to someone you are supposed to care about.
I am pretty ashamed to say that I was one of the people using the "r" word. I of all people should have known better. I know how much the "n" word hurts. I never got caught up in saying "that's gay," I always knew that was a horrible thing to say. I think for some it takes some sort of connection to realise it is wrong. My big sister is gay so I just always knew how horrible that word was used out of context. I can't believe I was so ignorant that I couldn't see how horrible the "r" word really was! I've been going through my vocabulary making sure I'm not saying anything else like it. I don't want to hurt anyone with my ignorance. I know how it feels.
Please consider yourself educated. I know it can take some time and slip ups happen so please, don't just censor yourself, imagine you love someone like Baby Hulk and STOP.
I planned this post last week, totally unaware that this special day for awareness was happening so, to tie it all together I am making my post a day early! Pledge to be heard at
www.r-word.org
