Meet my nephew Ryan, who has Down Syndrome. He’s 20 years old.
Historically, folks including the medical profession called people like Ryan retarded, or morons, and lately mentally challenged is supposed to be more polite. None of these terms are accurate and are insulting, at least to my ears.
“People with Down syndrome attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, have meaningful relationships, vote and contribute to society in many wonderful ways,” according to the Down Syndrome Website. www.ndss.org/...
In these virulently toxic times, all too often we are hurling insults like morons and retards and mentally challenged at our political enemies and their supporters. Please don’t lump those people in with Ryan by using these pejorative phrases that once were used to describe him and folks with his condition.
Ryan would never take away your health care or put children in cages or wink at murders of journalists. His grandfather and grandmother, an aunt and an uncle, and his own mother were and are journalists.
I recognize that a host of other phrases once used to label Down Syndrome folks, like idiot and imbecile, have passed into use as common insults. But hearing and reading “retarded” and “moron” still upsets me. I speak for myself.
Maybe I’m too sensitive. But when you are hurling insults into the abyss that is the Trump Era, remember that the abyss is peering into you; don’t let it exploit use of thoughtless language to plant blind hate in your soul.