I think the most effective way to get people to stop using the "r word" is not so much to try to ban its use or impose some kind of embargo on it. That approach just seems to bring out the worst kinds of entitled, obtuse, "Fight the Man" arguments about what the word technically means and how we should just make the choice not to be offended, etc. Trust me, I know.
I like this PSA because it makes what I believe is a more effective point, that you ought to care how much your words hurt someone else, but even if you don't, calling someone a retard simply makes you look like a bigot. Or rather, it alerts the world that you ARE in fact a bigot.
Thanks to the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign (sponsored by Special Olympics and Best Buddies), and particularly to Lauren Potter and Jane Lynch. I like this PSA very much.
(I'm still not going to watch Glee, though. Sorry.)
Rob I was about to email you this clip! :) Glad you got it first. its a great little bit. Seriously dont waste your time with GLEE. lol
ReplyDeleteI posted this as well over on my blog and gave a link to your recent post.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm not going to watch Glee, either. :)
Nice. And I still won't watch "Glee" either. Except tonight. Here's why...
ReplyDeleteThis is my friend Peter's wife. Short story is that Glee approached her about using one of her arrangements on the show, the deal somehow fell through, they decided to use it anyways (without her permission, assuming noone would notice, I guess), they put out their teaser songs, as they usually do, and a cappella people quickly recognized it as a fully lifted arrangement by and for U of Oregon's Divisi (I've heard this group do this arrangement and judged them doing it), launched a campaign, got some national press, eventually brought in Ed Boyer, who is in our community and does some mixing stuff for both Glee and The Sing-Off, he contacted people there, their lawyers contacted Peter's wife and worked out a deal...all within *48 hours*. That show airs tonight, with proper credit given.
http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/05/in_tonights_finale_glee_uses_a.html
Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWonderful message! I will post this on all my social media! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this PSA too! I saw it for the first posted on a blog I follow of a mom whose 8-year-old has cerebral palsy. She has been getting some very nasty comments on her blog about this issue and I am really surprised just how terrible people can be. :(
ReplyDeleteI love this, I'm going to create a link on my page as well from your site.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love the PSA. I think it covers the reason why "the r word" is so offensive. Hopefully more people will start to understand.
ReplyDeleteRob, wondering what you think we should do regarding movies/lit that already use "the r-word" in an unacceptable way? Here in Austin, a city-sponsored outdoor screening of "Napoleon Dynamite" scheduled for tonight was canceled after complaints that the movie uses "the r-word." I would probably feel more strongly about this one way or another if I didn't dislike this particular movie. But I'm wondering what you think about such a thing: do we not screen these movies publicly anymore, do we follow up public screenings with a discussion about the use of the word, do we just let it go?
ReplyDeleteYou know, I don't think we stop screening anything. For one thing, there's no absolute rule. A movie that makes it into a crude joke is different from a movie that is making a point (I'd argue that "Tropic Thunder" falls into that category, although I know there are plenty of advocates who disagree), let alone a movie that uses it to illustrate the ugliness of a character who would use it.
ReplyDeleteI do think that if someone wants to use that word, then they should go ahead and do it, but I won't accept "I didn't know better" as an excuse. If you find that word acceptable and it's the only one that will do, I certainly want to know that about you. The same goes for filmmakers, I think.
I made a suggestion to the Spread the Word to End the Word people that an effective PSA could feature public figures (like Lebron James, Kirstey Alley, Lady GaGa, Rahm Emmanuel or, on a much much smaller scale, me) who have used the word in the past in a public way and have now seen their way to change. They responded positively to the idea, and I hope something comes of it.
Ultimately, I think the issue is about taking responsibility and reaching understanding, not banning or expunging the word. That's impossible, I think, and it also kind of misses the point. But that's just my opinion, and it certainly doesn't reflect the position of many (perhaps even most) advocates.
Love this PSA, but I have to tell you I feel the same about your "B" word--both limit and put labels on people.
ReplyDeleteWell, we're going to have to agree to disagree about that.
ReplyDeleteI agree, great PSA, because it causes people, or at least I hope it causes people, to reflect about their words and see people behind them. Real people.
ReplyDeleteAnd why don't you watch Glee? And strong objection to it? it just seems you would be a Glee fan, don't know why, it just seems that way to me.
The Glee thing was mostly a joke. Julie watches it, I do not, and since we live in a smallish apartment, we joke around a lot about me not being able to get away from it, etc.
ReplyDeleteNo big philosophical objection or anything like that. I just don't like the show. At all.
You know in England Retard is just not used and when it is people really do find it entirely unacceptable. Interesting how two similar cultures are different in this, I am always shocked by american shows, or american friends and family saying the word.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the comment that in England people don't use the word retard, I think that is because the word 'Spastic' tends to replace it. My husband is English and before having autistic children we used to travel back frequently to visit. I was really struck by the use of the words 'spas' and 'spastic' to basically mean the same thing. Someone does something stupid or clumsy and gets called spastic. I've even seen this term accompanied by the person doing the insulting putting their tongue over their lower teeth, letting their hand hang limp from their wrist and hit themselves on the chest as though having a muscular fit while calling their friend spastic. It's not that the English refrain from this sort of thing. They just tend to be a bit more creative about it. And specific. Kind of like saying Hoover instead of just vacuum.
ReplyDelete