Juan Williams might be the most rational person on cable news today.

developmentally disabled is a much nicer term to describe people formally referred to as retarded. 
i do, however, secretly wish that we could still use the word retarded to describe annoying things or people, like Ed Schultz, for example. It’s such a great word to say when you are pissed or annoyed at something/someone. But I don’t use it anymore because it offends people. 

And I do think if you are having a civil discussion about developmentally disabled people and you accidentally say retarded, you shouldn’t get attacked. Most likely it was a mistake.

If someone is offended by the word ‘retarded’ it’s only because they ‘want’ to be offended. And I’m willing to oblige them.

Juan Williams seems very self absorbed lately. He is a publicity ‘tart’.
The world revolves around Juan. At least Juan thinks it does.

I really find nothing wrong with the word “retarded.”  I find it incorrect to use “special.”  My daughter was in a 
“Special” class at school and in those days it meant that she was talented and had particular skills in acting,
singing, music, and entertaining and well as maintaining a superior grade average.  Go figure.

It’s obvious that Mr. Williams misses the point about the use of the word “retarded” or its close cousin “retard” – the latter used as a noun.  I suspect that he understands the use and misuse of racial terms, but may have some resentment – like a lot of other privileged males – about having to be cautious regarding terminology used and misused toward other groups in our culture – e.g. terms having to do with sexual orientation, gender and/or intellectual disability.

The word “retarded” – as related by the interviewer – is used to demean a nondisabled person by painting them as being *like* the person with intellectual disabilities.  Using it that way is no less demeaning than the old term “white n____r.”

Is that honest enough discussion for you?

If you know someone who is developmentally disabled – either as a result of a congenital disease, an accident or an illness like stroke - you would know that a word like “retarded” is akin to the N-word. It demeans and diminishes people whose cognition is impaired through no falt of their own, and yet who struggle valiently every minute of every day to do things we do absentmindedly while multi-tasking. For the effort they put in, they deserve dignity and respect. Sorry if I sound like a bleeding heart but we are all just one accident or stroke away from joining this club. Just think of that Giants fan who is now brain damaged after getting visciously attacked by thugs. There but for the grace of G-d …

I had a blind mother  that when introduced to others for the first time, they would talk LOUD to her. She would just smile and say “Im blind not deaf”. Point being, unless a person has the disability or someone close that may have a disability, they will never understand the harm words can cause.

Some of just prefer not to use words that make children cry.  “Retarded” is being banished the way “Sambo” has been banished.  Wouldn’t we rather task our vocabularies to come up with a work around than contribute to the already difficult lives of develpmentally disabled children?  For me, the words “I am not politically correct,” indicate something mean is about to be said.

What being offensive has to do with reading great authors, I do not know – but I suspect Philly has not read his way through the canon yet, or he would know that great authors live on because they write about people not labels.

Fact: N-please I wonder how retarded got harder to say? Beats the life out of me?

While I hate the r-word, it was formerly the official, politically correct word for people with mental disabilities.  This creates an even longer time to ‘phase out’ the word from normal to offensive.   Just a fact.  Therefore, we have to realize that for most people, it’s not meant as offensive.   State agencies, to this day, often use the word in their title. 

Juan should realize that now that he knows its offensive, it’s not ‘just a word’ but a very offensive word.   

Only a retardate could wish to retardare the retardation of our retarded fear of what are, after all, just words. Ain’t that right, slant?

The n-word was ALWAYS a word of hatred, whereas the r-word has been replaced with more appropriate labels.   Bad analogy…The correct analogy is from negro to black or african-american…

“For me, the words “I am not politically correct,” indicate something mean is about to be said.”

Sometimes that expression precedes “something mean”…mostly it just precedes something stupid.

Which your claim is a lie Juan isn’t self absorbed he has every right to bash NPR since they had no right to fire him in fact Juan should sue NPR but is too nice do that.

I don’t use the R-word either as I think it is offendeding word I think the R-word is almost gone because people are seeing that it is offensive to say just my opinion.

Fact is language is constantly changing.  So the truth is terms are being changed too.  Centuries ago villain simply meant somebody who lived in the village.  Now of course it means a terrible person.  Perhaps long ago people thought people who lived in villages were bad.  Midget was socially acceptable as recently as the 30s.  Now its little people.  Mixed feelings regarding political correctness. Sometimes  think it goes too far such as for example vertically challenged for short adults.  OTOH other  times I think non PC is not giving a darn about hurting people’s feelings.  In regard to the R word, ie retarded I definitely believe retard is an insult word.  When was the last time it was NOT used in that way?  I just know words can hurt terribly and so can labeling.  People are people first and not merely their label.  Persons with psychiatric illnesses are pretty much maligned too in society with terms that was at least as insulting and insensitive as retard.  ie, crazy, mad, nuts, loony, loonybin, psycho, sicko and many others. 

I can think of a great use for the word “retarded”.  A description of most members of Congress.

After working with the developementally disabled, it (retarded) is a learned label that should not be put on anyone. They know your referring to them and are terribly hurt by it.  We have all learned through the ages what offends and hurts others.  Words cut deep and being more aware of how they are used is important. In today’s society, it would be  appreciated if people would be concerned of the words they use instead of blurting them out disrespectfully.  That includes TV and the movies. The mentally disabled would love to be included into a world of “regular” people. Those of us who aren’t living in their bodies need to respect that. Never think they don’t know who your referring to.

Whats the Difference. Its not like changing a Word is going to make people who are mentally retarded all of a sudden not mentally retarded. In 20 years they will change it again because people are too dam sensitive. Get a grip people and pay attention to things that actually matter. And Yes, I have a child that is mentally retarded.