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The Forest Scout

The Student News Site of Lake Forest High School

The Forest Scout

The Student News Site of Lake Forest High School

The Forest Scout

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Spread the Word to End the Word

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It had already been a long day as I sat there exhausted in my math class. I felt as if the only way for me to stay alert was to participate. The teacher asked a basic question and I quickly shouted out an answer. The wrong answer. I guess my lack of sleep had gotten the best of me and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. There were a few chuckles throughout the room, but the most hurtful part was soon to follow.

My “friend” turned to me after my response and muttered,  “Are you retarded?”

The interesting thing was, this girl wasn’t a bully. She didn’t even realize what she had said or its significance before turning back around. It was a three-word question that involved that one word that has the potential to bring impulsive, reactionary emotion to my body; the word that cuts right to my core.

Retarded.

This one word is so commonly used that hearing it stings like salt in a wound for anyone, like myself, who knows the cruelty that comes hand-in-hand with it.

The word “retarded” is defined as “less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one’s age.” I don’t really see people using this word in a literal sense but more so as a way to call their friends “stupid.” For some, using the word “retard” is a daily occurrence. I hear it all the time. We all do. What it really comes down to is the fact that people have no idea what it is they are actually saying, and the implications behind this seemingly innocuous insult. If you compare the definition to how they are applying the term, there is no correlation. If they are implying that those with special needs are inferior to them, they are downright wrong. I will stand up to them behind that point. Despite the fact that those with special needs may have their own internal struggles, they are as much of a person as I am. Let’s face it: we all have our own internal struggles. We are all human beings.

Most people believe our school doesn’t have an issue with bullying. This is true in the sense that most people are kind to those with special needs. The fact that we even host an ELS basketball game to show our support is better than most schools, and I applaud us for that. However, the fact that people are still using the word “retard,” “ree,” or “retarded” as slang, is almost worse. You may be thinking, “I’m only saying it to my friends,” or “It’s really not a big deal.” That’s where you’re wrong. I have heard most of the excuses. I have found that the one used most often is that they are just saying it to their friends and they aren’t literally making fun of people with special needs. Still,  despite your attempted excuse at explaining to why you’re being ignorant, the truth is there is no excuse. What you’re saying is mean and there is no time or place where it should be allowed.

While I don’t thinking making fun of your peers is appropriate, I do understand that we all joke around. However, there are thousands of words in the english language. I believe asking you to eliminate one word from your vocabulary entirely isn’t catastrophic. It’s a simple fix with a big impact. If you currently use it, make a concerted effort to stop. Be more creative with your word choice, or find a new label you can derive humor from that’s less demonstratively offensive. That’s all I ask. 

For those who know me, you may be thinking that this article is biased. That would be a valid point to make. In one sense, it was perhaps a bit difficult to come up with an argument as to why you shouldn’t use this word because so many people, myself included, view this as just common sense and have for the entirety of our lives.

Bottom line is this: It is flat out offensive. There’s no reason for saying it and, quite frankly, people aren’t using it correctly to begin with. I don’t expect everyone who reads this to change their vocabulary entirely, but it is important for those who choose to use these hurtful words in their everyday lives to know that what they’re saying is wrong. It may be just a slip of the tongue.

The next time you say retard, think of all the people you are hurting, aside from just the person you say it to. If you take anything away from this, try using some positive words instead of using such hurtful ones. Try it out at this week’s ELS basketball game and cheer on your peers.

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About the Contributor
Holly Malnati, Author
Holly Malnati is a senior at Lake Forest High School. You can most commonly find her at the pool as she is the JV Swim Captain and an active member of the Girls' Varsity Water Polo Team. She loves Broadway musicals, twice-baked potatoes, and her summer job as a lifeguard at the Lake Bluff Pool. Look for her articles under In LFHS and In Our Opinion.
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