Sarah Palin has recently called for the resignation of Rahm Emanuel after the White House Chief of Staff used the word "retarded." And I can understand her zeal to score points against a democratic administration while out of office, but she's seemingly going about it in an extraordinarily bad way. The tea partiers, her base, loathe political correctness. Or, at least, that's what the polls say. I'm sure the use of the term "retarded" is a regular part of their conversations.
Personally, I'm not offended by the use of the term "retarded" but am against the abuse of the term. What distinguishes the term's use and abuse? You have to look at context and intent; you actually have to think and process what another person is saying before making the call. It's a little more demanding, but I think an entirely more reasonable approach.
Emanuel's use of the word was pretty tame while Rush Limbaugh clearly abused the term. And I'm not calling for Limbaugh's firing or censorship. I'm merely saying it was socially disgraceful, and leaving it at that. Again, a more reasonable approach.
Palin is right in saying the language people employ can often be cruel to outsiders and minorities. But she went about it in the most shrill and obnoxious way, and I think the point was lost.
It would have been far worse for Emanuel to say, "retards shouldn't be allowed to marry." And equally bad to say, "gays shouldn't be allowed to marry." And that's why you lose, Sarah Palin. Because the bigotry inherent in the unwanted connotations of a word pales in comparison to acting to warp government to deny minorities their equal rights and equal treatment under the law. That moral high-ground of yours is in the deepest, darkest pit. You're a thousand times more bigoted than you ever perceived Emanuel to be. Having said that, Sarah Palin, I look forward to seeing you apologize to the people who run the gay olympics.
Personally, I'm not offended by the use of the term "retarded" but am against the abuse of the term. What distinguishes the term's use and abuse? You have to look at context and intent; you actually have to think and process what another person is saying before making the call. It's a little more demanding, but I think an entirely more reasonable approach.
Emanuel's use of the word was pretty tame while Rush Limbaugh clearly abused the term. And I'm not calling for Limbaugh's firing or censorship. I'm merely saying it was socially disgraceful, and leaving it at that. Again, a more reasonable approach.
Palin is right in saying the language people employ can often be cruel to outsiders and minorities. But she went about it in the most shrill and obnoxious way, and I think the point was lost.
It would have been far worse for Emanuel to say, "retards shouldn't be allowed to marry." And equally bad to say, "gays shouldn't be allowed to marry." And that's why you lose, Sarah Palin. Because the bigotry inherent in the unwanted connotations of a word pales in comparison to acting to warp government to deny minorities their equal rights and equal treatment under the law. That moral high-ground of yours is in the deepest, darkest pit. You're a thousand times more bigoted than you ever perceived Emanuel to be. Having said that, Sarah Palin, I look forward to seeing you apologize to the people who run the gay olympics.
