tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post4942444364418534310..comments2023-10-10T09:18:18.257-06:00Comments on The Seal Bark: The "R" wordheatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01061626477737855499noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-12533347081773131152008-09-17T23:39:00.000-06:002008-09-17T23:39:00.000-06:00Heather! I appreciated this post! I have been a ...Heather! I appreciated this post! I have been a pro-parent advisor to my niece (who has a retarded mental capacity, during this past year and a half. So many times I have caught myself saying this word outloud in her presence. It is usually when I am describing myself...something I've done...but I never realized I used it so often...until it hit me that she might be offended by it. I have been working on eliminating this word from my vocabulary since then. It's a habit that still slips out...but I am hoping to conquer it soon.Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17830816844327008461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-21402812980786372542008-08-24T12:36:00.000-06:002008-08-24T12:36:00.000-06:00Hi! Thank you for your sweet comment on our blog....Hi! Thank you for your sweet comment on our blog. And thank you for your post about this important issue, I couldn't agree more. <BR/>I love meeting other families who have so much in common with our own family. Thanks!Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07523343485442365557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-42414027446098370312008-08-07T01:33:00.000-06:002008-08-07T01:33:00.000-06:00I have to agree. Educating people is key. I am o...I have to agree. Educating people is key. I am one who has been guilty of throwing around the "R" word in the past. As "Ursenbach Family" said, the word has been used sooo much and meaning has been twisted around so much that people don't think about what it REALLY means. But I do now, and it hurts my heart when I hear other people say it too.Jenni and Chad Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18234485776304803510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-25449168412534639002008-08-06T15:53:00.000-06:002008-08-06T15:53:00.000-06:00I feel the same way with "retard" as I do with "ga...I feel the same way with "retard" as I do with "gay". These words were never meant to be used as adjectives. I try to correct all of my family/friends who use these words incorrectly and I hope that your post educates and changes people's use of those words.THMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17044612721853673602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-14308574397512734152008-08-06T12:57:00.000-06:002008-08-06T12:57:00.000-06:00Removing that word from my daily vocabulary was re...Removing that word from my daily vocabulary was really hard for me. I remember after Jackson was born I started noticing how much I said it, and it broke my heart every time it slipped out. It is a word that’s meaning has been twisted so much and now is as common as the word happy! Over the years I have successfully eliminated it from my vocabulary and taught all of our family and friends that it is offensive. Every person who I have asked to please not use the word has come back with a story about how they didn't realize what a terrible word it was until attention was drawn to it. I am proud of you for making this post!<BR/><BR/>PS. Where is Morgan going to school next year?Amy Louhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10545371927030694190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-32172681015738222532008-08-06T11:22:00.000-06:002008-08-06T11:22:00.000-06:00I agree Heather, it is too bad that a lot of us sa...I agree Heather, it is too bad that a lot of us say things with out thinking. We have told Grace that it is not nice to say stupid, and so now she catches us when we say it! So it has been good because now Jamie and I don't say it! We love Morgan so much, and your whole cute family! I know your kids are a lot of work, but keep it up! You are doing such a good job with them.Brittanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11359432733085159576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-11906438574426852292008-08-06T10:40:00.000-06:002008-08-06T10:40:00.000-06:00i enjoyed this post because I have been having the...i enjoyed this post because I have been having these feelings lately too and don't really know how to handle them. I had a hard time the other day because 2 of my closest friends were making jokes using the word "special" in a very negative way and that really hurt-especially because they had no idea what they were doing. I am still pretty new at this so I don't no how to handle it well. I love what you said to your friend and I hope that I can learn to educate people in a kind manner so they understand my point of view.keciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623543642574019779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-80875444956150632082008-08-05T22:30:00.000-06:002008-08-05T22:30:00.000-06:00I agree Coolwhip that when the word is used correc...I agree Coolwhip that when the word is used correctly that it is not offensive. Unfortunately I NEVER hear it used correctly except by other moms who also have a child with a disability.heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01061626477737855499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-7276986477682936652008-08-05T22:21:00.000-06:002008-08-05T22:21:00.000-06:00When I hear that word being used I always turn to ...When I hear that word being used I always turn to the speaker and say (calmly, of course) "You mean stupid." I usually have to repeat it again as they aren't sure of what I am speaking. If The Love Magnet is there, its self explanitory. If she is not then I tell them about The Love Magnet and how the word is hurtful. They usually correct themselves and never (or rarely) use it again. The only exception has been one of my sisters-in-love. She still uses it. I still love her. I still correct her. One of these days....Scarehaircarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785592779981159999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-50439428893821731822008-08-05T21:01:00.000-06:002008-08-05T21:01:00.000-06:00I will not use the word, and my kids don't. But i ...I will not use the word, and my kids don't. But i am not offended when others do. Since Eva, i notice it more than i ever did, but i wouldn't want people to feel like they needed to tip toe around the fact that Eva is and always will have a retarded mental capacity. It's not one of the important things about her. I always liken it to a retardondo in music. To slow something down. And it does take her a little longer to learn things, she's a little slower. And since the way people use it in a sentence has no baring on who she is, i don't liken the two to each other. Her down Syndrome is one of the most endearing things about my bright, loving, compassionate, little Eva.COOLWHIPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17147859523699067028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331423483971283964.post-41493572911629860782008-08-05T17:36:00.000-06:002008-08-05T17:36:00.000-06:00I agree completely with everything you just wrote....I agree completely with everything you just wrote. I feel the same about the word 'idiot' which I have been known to use, but hopefully not again. (Usually when upset with the way someone is driving).<BR/>Since Morgan was born and has blessed our lives, I am much more observant of what I and others say.<BR/>Good comments that needed to be said.Grandma Bethanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02297837949764602926noreply@blogger.com