A Brief Overview Of The R Word Pledge Movement

By Evelyn Walls


The use of word retard in the daily conversations by people has been strongly condemned in throughout America. The welfare of the mentally and physically challenged persons is grossly violated through the use of these offensive words. Thus the R word pledge was formed to help deal with this in the year 2009.

Due consideration is being achieved to be given to the welfare of mentally or even physically challenged individuals and this led to the campaign for the use of more appropriate words. The main agenda for this movement is informing the public at large that these individuals, if regarded as any other people can be of gainful contribution to the society.

The pledge is usually driven and promoted through the Spread the Word to End the Word initiative. It came to be when several youth converged and thought of an idea on this during the Special Olympics Global Activation Summit. It was around 2009 in the World Winter games that this great movement got to be initiated.

Students from all over the United States usually take part in this initiative by promising to discard the usage of the word retard in their day to day activities. They also promise to educate the public on the same. March 31 is usually the nationwide day for the propagation of this program. Through this movement, some people who hold public offices have been strongly condemned for violating the very objective of this movement and this has even led to them making public apologies. Some of them have even gone to join the movement.

This movement usually aims at achieving its objectives through several ways. One among the ways that its supporters are encouraged to take part in spreading the message is through social media. People are usually advised to tweet that they will actively support the agenda of this campaign through their words and even deeds. The movement also has a Youtube channel and a Facebook page whereby the agenda is usually publicized. Interested parties are also encouraged to sign up for the newsletter so as to keep up to date with relevant information and even schedules for events.

There is also a 46 day event which involves the carrying of a torch relay. Financial contributions are also made during this very event. These funds usually come in handy in further public awareness activities.

The sharing of personal stories which triggered people into joining the initiative is considered to be critical and also very much encouraged. Individual narrations as to the reasons of aiming to join this movement are a vital element in helping promote the agenda held by the initiative.

Participants are also taught with how to handle people who they deem to have contravened the main principles by this initiative through the use of abusive language. Not all scenarios present a good opportunity for an intervention and therefore it is always very critical that the supporters for this initiative are taught about that. The R word movement has also gained the support of very well known figures who have helped educate masses on the same.




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