By Casey Film
Round Table editor
Many Middletown High School students and faculty were sporting red bracelets on March 3 in support of the movement to “spread the word to end the word.” The motion to end causal use of the word “retarded” found its way into the MHS cafeteria where it gained considerable support from students and staff alike. Though the list of names on the pledge list numbered over 100, there is still a question as to how potent the movement will actually be.
The controversy over the use of the “r-word” lies mainly in its derogatory nature. There are people who wouldn’t have a care if someone dropped the r-bomb in during a conversation, but for those who do have a mental illness (and even for their families and friends) use of the word is considered not only offensive, but hurtful.
Be it a joking slip of the tongue of a deliberate insult, the “r-word” is believed to be rude whenever it is used in friendly exchanges. Now the rise of the “end the word” movement had made it virtually forbidden. But it is always the forbidden things that tempt people the most.
The goal of the “r-word” movement is to make the average person think twice about how they refer to each other, or to their mentally (or physically) challenged peers. The Special Olympics organization is pushing to get at least 100,000 people to pledge to refrain from using the “r-word,” and while the objective is definitely admirable, the result may be only a few steps above insignificant.
That is not to say that using the “r-word” is acceptable, but even in places like Middletown where kind-hearted people are numerous, there will always be the few who intentionally break the barriers of proper speech.
Words like the one the movement is fighting are like weapons; they can hurt or wound, but only when they are taken in a hand. An idle sword will not injure anyone, but if an adversary were to physically attack someone with that same blade, only then does it become dangerous.
Words, and even weapons, don’t hurt people; people hurt people. It is impossible to simply ban a word and have an entire world full of people resign to the decision.
In fact, outlawing the “r-word” will probably drive those child-like few to apply it even more. A word that is officially considered hurtful is the perfect material for someone who intends to cause offense.
The ban can be difficult even for well-meaning folks. All it takes is an emphasis on the right syllable, and a word that would normally mean “to be delayed” becomes a stinging insult meaning stupid, embarrassing, or other more offensive definitions.
The campaign is simply adding to the many social moirés that govern polite interaction, and defining a new rule in what is acceptable behavior.
The “r-word” movement will at best begin to cast shame on anyone who uses the word, but it is shame that will vary in intensity depending on who is around to hear. It has already achieved a level of success, but the test will be in how many people will uphold the ban and for how long.
