SFs, you have hopefully seen the link on this site to the End the R-word site. It’s something I feel strongly about.

I, along with others, want to end the r-word!

This is NOT politics. This is about respecting other people.

To be clear, we are talking about the words “retard” and “retarded.” I hate to even type them here, but I want you to understand what I’m talking about.

It’s currently in the news that the president has used this word to insult people. (One example is on tape and you may even hear that recording being played).

Please! Do not follow his example!

Please, do not use this word as an insult or as a description of someone. It has no medical meaning anymore. No human is “retarded.”

When someone uses this word as an insult, it’s more than just being rude to the victim. It hurts real people who have been labelled with the r-word because they think, act or look different from “normal.”

Sometimes, a well-meaning person may even describe someone as “mentally retarded” without meaning to insult them. However, the term is outdated and offensive, whether they know it or not.

Like a horror movie monster, the word needs to die! But every time someone uses it, it struggles back to life again.

So, please, help us end it by never ever using it!