See UPDATE after the fold.
The front page diary about justice dept. hiring practices:
This does not befit the Kos community or represent us well. Rahm Emmanual just got himself in hot water by calling Republicans "F'in Retards"- do you know WHY?
Because people with developmental disabilities have worked for 30+ years to remove the term "mental retardation" from the venacular- it is no different that asking for qualified "negros"-- the word itself implies a disability instead of celebrating the ABILITIES people have.
We used to lock people with "mental retardation" up in institutions because we perceived them to be sub-human and not having the same rights as everyone else.
So... how about a little sensitivity and not using this to take a cheap shot. I could imagine the reaction if we were discussing being homosexual in such a cavelier and insulting manner on the Kos front page.
UPDATE: I have been with Kos since the beginning (UID #1200). I am ashamed of this site. This is not a GBCW. I'll still be here. But I am ashamed.
Why not listen to Robert Kennedy, and look at what kind of world words like "retarded" gets us:
I have been to movies with people with developmental disabilities, and to be funny the word "retard" will be thrown around. I remember looking around and seeing every one of the people I was with who had a developmental disability looking down, being uncomfortable. These are people who have been stigmatized by this "label" which does not see them as people first, and instead looks only at a potential collateral disability they may have.
I know people who are the most incredible people in the world who could have this label. I have known people who have wisdom, who understand the world and have many more values than people who DO work at the Justice Department. I know people who have amazing skills in one area but may have a deficit in another that could lead them to be labeled MR.
I know people who have accomplished more in their life, whatever their deficits, than many people on this site. We all have a disability. When a "nuero-typical" person has a lousy sense of direction, they buy a GPS unit and make jokes about it. When a person with a developmental disability has a lousy sense of direction, they're called retarded and told they can't go the places they want to go. When a "neuro-typical" person mismanages their checkbook and bounces a check, they make jokes about bank fees, feel embarrased and try to fix the problem. When a person with a developmental disability mismanages their money, they are called mentally retarded and someone seeks to be their conservator.
The front page post is a cheap shot, not funny, and as insulting as making a similar joke about race, religion or sexual preference.
Remove it from the site.