By: Tsahai Crawlle“You’re such a retard!” she screamed at her friend in a sarcastic voice running down the hallway. “No, you’re the one acting gay!” I hear these words practically everyday, and sometimes even haphazardly say them myself. But do we know what they really mean? And should we even care what words come out of our mouths? There are just words, right? Wrong!
It seems to be a generational curse when it comes to taming the human tongue. Who would think that the smallest part in the human body could be the most dangerous weapon. Your words can lift someone up, or put them down and your words can curse and even bless.
Former Washington Post reporter, Patricia E. Bauer wrote an article entitled “A Movie, a Word and My Family’s Battle”, which discussed her own life encounters with the popularly used word “retard”. This word that is supposed to refer to someone of low intellect was actually referring to Bauer’s twenty four year old daughter with the disability of down syndrome. Bauer of course knows first hand how much it hurts her when she hears that hurtful “R” word, but the thousands of teenagers fashionably using it today obviously do not. And why don’t they? As human beings isn’t it our highest honor to love our neighbor as ourselves? Or has the turn of the twenty first century made us unconcerned about respecting one another?
I especially know first hand what the word “retard” means to me, and how hurtful that five letter word can be. My own cousin was born with the entire left side of her brain not functioning, but to me she was no ”retard” because she could speak, interact and care for herself just like any of us. But when she died three years ago from a seizure in her sleep, the painful thought of losing her comes rushing back to my mind when I use that word or hear someone use it.
Some would say that I and many others are simply “overacting” when we become hostile and condemn the use of words like “retard,” “fag (the other F word),” “handicap,” “cracker,” the “N word” and even “holocaust”. Why? Maybe we are being way too sensitive, or maybe we just haven’t caught onto the latest fad – be ignorant and inconsiderate of others emotions at all costs. But the only reason that we become so uptight upon hearing these words is because we know the origin.
The word that is a rude reference to homosexuals, “the other F word“, originated from when a bundle of twigs was tied together in order to burn homosexuals and other people indifferent to the views and opinions of the Catholic Church. This is just one example of unknown origins.
The vain use of the word “cracker”, referring to a Caucasian person originally referred to the person who “cracked” or “whipped” the slaves during America’s slave period, hence the name cracker. Or the word “handicap.” I know what your thinking, how could the word handicap be problematic, even the U.S government using that word? But in 1900’s it actuality meant that special Americans needed to have a “cap” “handy” because all they would be able to do was beg.
American rappers and other singers are even paid to use expletive language in their songs. The music industry’s hope being to attract attention to the song, thus popularizing it, and make millions off of a crude song. One word that is on the tip of most African American rappers tongues is the “N word.” The majority of us know the hurtful history behind the word but what gives rappers the right to say it and not others. Why are they exempt from saying a word that marked their ancestors as being the lowest of Americans? Why are they not chastised for saying the same word their ancestors dreaded hearing. Though many rappers feel they are entitled to (because they are African American) say the most offensive word in the English language, they shouldn’t. They would take offence if a Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic, etc. referred to them as the N word, so there is evidently no point in calling one another that in any fashionable way. If no one else can say it (the N word) then rappers should not be able to say it either; and if they do, then it simply personifies their ignorance.
Now that we have focused primarily on the origins of words, let us examine the meanings of words today. It has been said that words “evolve” overtime so what words meant in the age of our parents may mean something completely different for our younger population today. Looking back at the use of the word “retard”, today when people use this word they are not referring to someone who is actually “special” but rather the word’s connotation is “stupid”. The meaning of the word “handicap” has also changed for our generation and does not still hold it’s old negative denotation, but now implies solely the fact that a person has either physical or mental disabilities.
Hey, maybe I am a little uptight when it comes to words. Some think that it all depends on who you’re talking to, and if they don’t care what words you use then why should you? Well, I’ll tell you why, because each word we say, we end up popularizing it. It’s like your words can be the spread of a fatal disease. Think about it, how did the term “retard” become so popular? It didn’t just randomly become a popularly ignorant word overnight. No, through the media’s publicizing of the word (like Bauer said in movies like “Tropic Thunder”) and then the public’s repetition of the word, then it was made acceptable and popular. If the name “holocaust” wasn’t passed around to name and remember the killing of millions of Jews during the Nazi era, then couldn’t it be known as the Genocide of the Jews? The word “Holocaust”, in my opinion, is ill fit name for the tragic genocide of millions of Jews and other Nazi/ Hitler hated groups. Why, because the word “Holocaust” stems from the Greek word “holokauston” which means sacrifice to God, or burnt offering (according to the Bible). The unforgettable killing of millions of innocent people by the stoic Nazi army, most definitely should not be characterized as a sacrifice to God. But the meaning of the word Holocaust for many today, would not be in accordance with the Greek origin of the word but rather referring to the genocide only. So this word would be an example of the different meanings that words to people of different nationalities.
Only we give words power, and thus we also have the power to take it away. Although words evolve and change overtime, by knowing where they came from we gain greater understanding of their impact. So if we all take the time to think about what leaves our lips then we may be able to control our most fatal weapon. But if we don’t, then our own tongues will lead to our most inevitable downfall.
Sources: “A Movie, A Word and My Family’s Battle” by Patricia E. Bauer, Dictionary.com
Thanks to all for commenting! The points made were enlightening and good constructive criticism, I’ve revised the article after reading all the comments and hope that everyone will once again find the points in which I discuss helpful and true.
I’m usually not very critical of articles I find on the Tattler, but you completely neglect the significance of connotations. Greek and Latin roots do not give words their meanings. Instead, society determines these meanings. How many people say “handicap” implying, “You inferior disabled person! All you can do is beg with a cap in hand.”? None that I know.
Take the word “homo,” for example– the Greek prefix meaning “the same” (dictionary.com). Yet today, the word “homo” by itself most often refers to homosexuality. And even when the teacher says “homogeneous” in freshmen biology class, at least 10 kids snicker. The word has taken the meaning of its connotation, not its origin.
So you see, terms like “holocaust” truly refer to the unspeakable genocide of millions of Jews, Catholics, gypsies, and other minority groups. Holocaust does not refer to some glorified sacrifice, unless, perhaps, you are Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Our language does not come from the dictionary, it comes from what society perceives the meanings of words to be. Unless you plan on talking to no one but yourself, defining words by their origins will not get you very far.
But to be fair, I think your thoughts on “retard” and “the N-word” are dead on. We do need to clean up our language, and setting a different standard for each race is polarizing and counterproductive.
I focused mainly on the origins of words in hope of having a greater impact on the reader, because by them knowing where what they say comes from, then they may be more thoughtful in what they say. But in this revised version I’ve made sure to talk more about words “present” uses and effects. I discussed the term Holocaust focusing on the GREEK meaning to shed light on the origin, (as you can see I’m big on discussing origins) but in the revised version I’ve discussed what it means to most Americans today.
Religious and ethnic intolerance* (and, on second thought, ignorance is probably a more fitting word)
I can definitely relate to the very beginning of this article- it’s undeniable that there’s a lot of anti-gay language floating around the halls (and classrooms, often within a teacher’s earshot) of B-CC. It’s discriminatory, offensive, and hurtful; its widespread usage is completely intolerable. The same applies to the casual use of the word ‘retard’ in reference to students with disabilities, physical and otherwise, the overuse of the word ‘racist’, and religious and ethnic tolerance. Just my opinion, but from what I’ve noticed, words such as these seem to be the most commonplace, ergo most relevant to our daily lives.
With that said, I think this article would have been more effective if it hadn’t focused, rather unrealistically, on students’ every misuse of a word (particularly in reference to the words ‘handicap’ and ‘holocaust’ which are generally acceptable unless they’re used in a blatantly inappropriate context). For better or for worse, the English language is ever-changing. Presently, it’s probably best to focus on combating the use of words that are “actively” offensive. Origins are interesting, but why not write an article tackling the source of the problem? Wouldn’t that be more constructive?
However, I can at least appreciate that you’re thinking in the right direction.
P.S.
-Shockingly offensive lyrics aren’t limited to rap songs, and I’m a bit reluctant to believe that you have the authority to speak on behalf of rap artists.
-I think you may have profiled the wrong ‘c’-word, considering its prevalent usage and pertinence to this topic.
The focus of the article was purposely focused on students misuse of these words, because as students we are the next generation to inherit the world and if we change our ways of speaking then we can have huge impacts on the world. I also focused on the origins of words because we need to know where they came from, but I revised the article and in addition discuss the present use of words. Thanks for the constructive criticism!
I think you did a wonderful job writing this! To be perfectly honest, I am one of those people who uses some of these words, and I did not think about what they could possibly mean to someone who didnt take what I was saying as lightly as I was. After reading your point of view, I realize what the consequences of my actions could be. Thanks for opening my eyes, Tsahai!
Besides, think about it! Would you ever refer to a disabled person as retarded, even in a non-offensive way?
some people are called "mentally retarded" . meaning you are mentally slow..
Yes, but that term has only come into use very recently, because of all the fuss about the use of the word “retarded” in a casual context. In other words, it is being reintroduced as a polite term, which is just creating problems. Just “mentally disabled” or something like that is better.
When i read the article i completley agreed but now that i have had the WONDERFUL benefit of reading our staff’s SPECTACULAR comments i gotta say… the article does a great job getting me mad at those who do use these words, but then I calm down and i realize these words have become less derogatory. BUT, those who use them are using them to be as darogatory as posssible and therefore and are not using them in their new evolved forms. These words wont evolve for a while and still have strong meanings.
I disagree with one point here. Although “retard” may have been an offensive term to use several decades ago, the word has changed meaning. It is simply no longer used to describe people with disabilities. It has now taken on a new meaning, which is a synonym for stupid. And it is not the first word to have done this. The words “Idiot,” “Imbecile,” “Moron,” and “Cretin” all used to be terms to describe different levels of IQ. But eventually, people started using them more and more as insults, and they changed meaning. People no longer use them to describe people with low IQs. The same is true of the word “retard.” Still, however, I think that people should refrain from using it because it offends some who do not agree with this. But I agree with most of the rest of your article.
John WOULD quote Snopes as a source.
But, yeah, I’ve got to agree with him. Some of this stuff is inconsistent.
ever since i read Ms. Bauers article, ive been chastising myself everytime the “R” word comes out of my mouth. its sad but definetely true in what you wrote.
Do you have sources for the origins of these words?
Wikipedia and Snopes disagree with your claims.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faggot_(slang)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_(pejorative)
http://www.snopes.com/language/offense/handicap.asp