The “r” Word Campaign

Please stop saying `retard’
Letter to the Editor
The Observer
http://www.nd.edu/~observer/02082000/Viewpoint/5.html

When I was growing up my father used to take my family on these trips to Notre Dame. I used to call it his glory time since he was kind of reliving the past. I also got the impression that Notre Dame was this wonderful place where nothing goes wrong.Ever since I started going here, I found that it has its problems just like everywhere else does. However, there is one problem which gets under my skin. It is when I hear my fellow classmates use the word “retard” to describe how they feel or what they look like.

There are two reasons why this bugs me. First, I have an older brother who is a “retard,” so I have grown up with people staring at him and making him fell out of place. Second, out of all the people in the world, they are the only ones who cannot defend themselves. I also know that most mentally disabled people know that it means something negative about them.

I know that nobody would call someone a “retard” who actually is mentally disabled. However, it is the idea behind the word that still exists. I just hope that people will be a little more thoughtful before they say “retard.”

Aaron Cook

Junior, Zahm Hall

February 7, 2000