As dads, brothers, sons, teachers and coaches we have the influence to make the “R” word a thing of the past.
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Ok guys, listen up. It’s simply unacceptable to use the word “R*tarded”. It’s not manly. It’s not funny. It’s not cool.
I struggled with how I would open this article. What words do I choose to ease the narrative? How do I softly step into a serious discussion of unacceptable language? The answer is I don’t. So, I chose to just hit it right out of the gate. It’s unacceptable.
Leaders don’t damage the social narrative. Leaders change the social narrative for the better.
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It is refreshing to note that from locker rooms, to classrooms, sports events, churches and night clubs men are stepping up to speak out about unacceptable behavior. One of the most effective campaigns over the last year has been the NFL’s NO MORE Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Campaign in response to a number of high profile cases highlighted. I’m impressed and encouraged that good men are standing up and speaking out on a variety of tough issues from behavior to the words we choose.
Within the last two weeks the University of Oklahoma witnessed firsthand the purposeful, unfortunate and ignorant, use of the “N” word in a video that took down the university’s entire SAE fraternity, and could eventually take down their national organization. Evidence has surfaced that these young men may have learned this language at a nationally sponsored (though maybe not nationally condoned) “leadership” conference. Do I believe that all SAE’s are racist? Absolutely not. I personally know good quality men who are SAE members. But the consequences of a few can not only shake the ground for the whole. Sometimes it serves to crumble entire foundations.
As someone who works in leadership, speaks about leadership, teaches on leadership, promotes leadership and writes about leadership, I am offended that any such event would model or teach language or actions that would denigrate others—and pretend to be remotely related to “leadership” Leaders lift up. Leaders edify. Leaders don’t damage the social narrative. Leaders change the social narrative for the better.
I have never participated in or been a member of any Greek organization. But I’m a university administrator in my day job, and as someone who works closely with Greek life on a number of causes and issues, I find it sad and reprehensible that organizations who are doing good, positive things are then lumped in with other Greeks across the country who made poor choices. Stereotyping is stereotyping. Labeling is labeling. Lumping is lumping, and we just simply shouldn’t do it.
Because of the negative press Greek life is receiving on a national scale, I was especially keen this week to the activities of some of our own Greeks on campus. Greeks I respect and appreciate. Outside my office door a table was set up and decorated, and five or six college men, members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, were hosting a display. I stepped outside to get a better look. “Would you like to help spread the word to end the word?” a young man asks. I’ll admit, immediately I thought this was in reference to the “N” word due to all the press. As someone who works in the field of disabilities I should have known better but this event was out of context for me.
“What word is that?”
I wonder who exactly people are making fun of when they say the “R word, give their best distorted speech impression, or beat their fists to their chest?
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“The “R” word sir, you can sign the pledge and we’ll display it here.” I smiled and listened as I heard these young men engaging other college students in the discussion.
The national organization of Pi Kappa Phi is participating in a larger national campaign to “Eliminate the derogatory use of the “R” word”. According to the organization, “As a group of men who seek to redefine the way society views fraternities and people with disabilities, this is a powerful opportunity to educate those around us on the hurt caused by inappropriately using the words “retard” or “retarded.” It further explains that often “people casually use the ‘R’ word to describe foolish behavior without thinking about how that slur impacts people with disabilities or their loved ones.”
I wonder who exactly people are making fun of when they say the “R word, give their best distorted speech impression, or beat their fists to their chest? Is it a post-war veteran now blinded from an IED explosion and suffering from traumatic brain injury while fighting for our country? Is it a brain-survivor who lost abilities during surgery? Is it someone like me with slurred speech due to paralysis? Is it a beautiful teenager who happened to be born with an extra chromosome? A young man who can’t express himself without screaming but who probably has a higher IQ than most people you know? The reality is that the word has become a general blanket derogatory term for anyone who is different.
Even the entertainment industry continues to peddle laughs at the expense of people with disabilities.
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People say stupid things. We all know this is true. At some point in our lives we’ve all said something hurtful or derogatory. More often we do so without intention to cause pain. I cringe when I hear people say the “R” word and I always have. But I’m also a licensed special educator. In another decade I ran a camp for people with disabilities. I serve in my national professional organization, and I serve on the editorial review board for a large disability-related professional journal. So I get it. It’s one of my passions.
There are a lot of people out there who do not get it. Families and young people touched by disability are hurt or bullied by poor word choices daily. Even the entertainment industry continues to peddle laughs at the expense of people with disabilities.
Bullying is still prevalent in our schools and I suppose always will be to some extent. But typically bullying begins with spoken words before ever getting physical. Bullying of students with disabilities is higher than that of typical non-disabled students, but statistics show that if bystanders, friends, or peers intervene, say something or change the narrative of the conversation, bullying is likely to stop.
When people choose hurtful words or derogatory terms, it brings a sort of social validation to the words and to the context for how the words were used. As men, we have the power to pull the plug on the use of the “R” word which will hopefully end a great amount of bullying and pain for others. As dads, coaches, as brothers, as sons, as peers, as teammates, as mentors, as colleagues we have this power within our sphere of influence. The next time you see a middle-schooler or even a peer use derogatory terms, make faces, or inappropriate impressions or gestures related to disability, take that opportunity to talk about it. Change starts with a conversation. A conversation many won’t have unless you bring it up.
Social justice involves more than issues of race or gender, it includes ability and disability, and I have a sense that in the coming years this will be highlighted even more. Until then, regarding disability, and on behalf of families and individuals who often feel devalued, will you consider spreading the word to end the word?
I signed the pledge. Have you?
6 Quick Actions You Can Take:
#1 Be proactive in your sphere of influence. Start a dialogue.
#2 Stand up and say something or identify injustices or things that need to be changed.
#3 Focus on people’s abilities and their value. Everyone has value.
#4 Give people opportunities to lead and to do things even if you’re concerned about their abilities. Everyone deserves a chance and you might be surprised!
#5 Make a mental note that the appropriate term is now “intellectually disabled”.
#6 Don’t say “R*TARDED”. Just. Don’t.
Real men don’t say R*tarded. Spread the Word to End the Word. 🙂 #SpreadTheWordToEndTheWord #Leadership #Men #families #disabilities
— Chester Goad, EdD (@cgoad09) March 28, 2015
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Photo: Flickr/Nic McPhee
While admirable that the young men of this particular fraternity were asking people to sign a “pledge”, how many Greek organizations actually recruit and allow students with disabilities to join them? What are the numbers? Fraternities and Sororities are still basically “social” clubs that project an aura of “exclusivity”. Until these organizations are more accepting to all students, their attempts at social justice just appear to be lip-service to make themselves feel good while continuing in their own exclusive practices.
Hi Sonja, Thanks for commenting. The particular fraternity I referenced is very active with the disabled community and their national project is the “Ability” project. As the administrator over disabilities at my university, I have several students I work with who are involved in fraternities. I haven’t really witnessed that sort of exclusivity on my campus, in fact, one fraternity spent several hours creating an accessibility map for students with disabilities. Another joined our university’s disability related student organization to ensure that our campus had braille in all the right places. Just last week I spent an hour discussing possible… Read more »
which r word u r talking about its a english word or some other LA gauge not getting it. if u can explain privately