Reasons For The R Word Pledge

By Thomas Cook


The R word is a phrase that stands for the word retard, or other words that may originate from it, say retards or retarded. The word has been widely discredited and campaigned against, for demeaning reasons. This led to a campaign known as Spread the word to end the word advocacy, which was a national event, whose aim was to depolarize and seize the using of the hostile words, to citizens of the United States. Henceforth, the R word pledge has won massive awareness and influence, in the States.

The advocates of the pledge have insisted that people should use language that is respectful to the dignity and integrity of individuals having mental disorders and disabilities, saying that they are not responsible for their mental woes, and is an act of God, and no man has control over it or can take responsibility for the situation, whatsoever.

The pledge was founded in the year 2009, during the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit. Its main mission was to totally eliminate the usage of the word retard, from speeches ad general talk. The advocates of the motion believe that the individuals who have cognitive mental disabilities are, also capable of enjoying their lives and also share their experiences with the rest of the society.

In light of these references, they ascertain that retard and such-like words kill the esteems of the recipients, and are viewed to instill some sense of disrespect to them, and they tend to appreciate themselves less, or even no more. They disregard themselves, and may even end up in appalling circumstances like giving up on life, or even contemplating committing suicide.

By terming it as the phrase r-word, the advocates are usually intended to draw an analogy which points out to socially unacceptable and unethical racial terms, most especially nigger, among other disgusting and barbaric uncouth utterances and words that are defamatory to specific society members.

The campaign, intriguingly, was initiated by people of all intellectual affiliations, both the sane and those with poverty of intellect. They were brought together by the basic reason that they had common interests and self-drive to stand firm for the abolishment of defamatory names for instance retard, nigger and other cruel terminologies. They hoped that the society, and the globe at large, would eventually a more comfortable and acceptable place to be lived by one and all, regardless of the malfunctions, upstairs.

National celebrations are held every 31st March of each year. The campaign is increasingly gaining popularity to huge flocks of people. For the record, White House Chief Staff was forced by the youth, to make an apology for his regrettable utterance of the term retards.

Ever since, the campaign has been through reaps and bounds, and though it has been met with its fair share of mishaps, it has remained relevant to many a people, who regard it in positive and progressive view.




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