Thursday, March 22, 2012

Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right

For friends and family who follow along, this blog may not make sense. However, I feel like I have to say something about what happened this morning.
A fellow blogger, who's journey I have been following since the beginning, posted a blog about her poor egg quality. While I felt completely sympathetic about her unfortunate news, my sincerity quickly turned to pain when I read the following, "
I burst out that I couldnt believe our eggs were retarded and mutated." She went on to apologize for being offensive. Too little too late.
I wrote a short reply to state that she was was indeed utterly offensive and I lost respect for her due to her poor choice of words. Calling your poor quality eggs 'retarded and mutated' is, in my opinion, completely horrendous. There were a few messages back and forth and things spiraled downhill...
I strongly disagree with using the word retarded to describe anything pertaining to stupidity, poor quality or bad taste. I have an uncle who was born with mental retardation. I spent a lot of time volunteering where he lives. I got a college degree based on my desire to help the developmentally disabled population and spent years working in the field. I have learned a lot from the people I have worked with and spent time with. It's hurtful to use language such as this. I think it makes you sound unintelligent and completely ignorant.
There are a few social issues I feel very strongly about and this is one of them. I can't sit back and let someone use offensive language without saying something to defend all the people I know who suffer from this developmental disability. It would be an injustice to myself and everyone I have come in contact with who has a developmental disability to not bring recognition to someone using such an afflictive word.
The lady who wrote this blog is making a big deal out of everything, taking items out of context and making me sound like an evil person. I just wanted to clarify how I felt to the blogger world.
Please think before you post something that is hurtful to other people. Please think before you use the word 'retarded.'
Here is a link to a video that an agency I worked for in Chicago put together regarding using the R Word. It has a lot of my clients and former co-workers in the video and I'm so proud of them for putting it together! It was featured on the Huffington Post website: End the R-Word

I feel a lot better posting my side of this story to the blogging world! Have a great day everyone!!


4 comments:

Mrs. T said...

There is a quote that comes to mind.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

Good for you in defending the honor and integrity of those with a developmental disability.

Charlotte said...

Hear, hear. I feel similarly about the r-word and it's always hard to know how to respond when people u it so casually. Good for you, sticking up for those with developmental disabilities.

Amber said...

Thanks ladies..glad I'm not alone on this one! Love the quote Mrs. T.

Eva Carper said...

Going on the attack instead of opening her mind and seeing it from someone else's perspective tells you a lot about someone's character.... Don't let her ignorance bring you down