"Retarded" is defined as someone who is less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age. However, according to most of society, the r-word is a label used to call someone stupid or idiotic. Misuse of the r-word comes off as an insult to someone who was born with such condition. Someone would not use the slang "midget" as a way to look down upon someone, so why is the r-word acceptable. Those that are diagnosed with disabilities are born that way; there is not a thing they can do to avoid the way the rest of their life is going to be. But, the use of their disorder as a negative insult is seen as utterly hurtful and cruel to someone who is medically labeled that way. Insulting someone by calling them "retarded", needs to stop now. 

Society must become aware that the word choice they use may hurt another, and in this case, saying "retarded" is insulting anyone born with such handicap. I am so invested into this issue due to my strong relationships with those personally affected. My passion for a world of inclusion will never occur if society uses the r-word as an adjective to hurt others. When society realizes that impact, then is when something will change. I am dedicated to making society aware that there are countless words in the dictionary, and I am only asking them to refrain from one. People must realize that every time this word is used it's the equivalence of using the slang words nigger, midget, fag, and many more that are based off of the way someone is born, not the way they wish to be seen. One of my best friends, Cate Alix, is diagnosed with down syndrome. Cate did not choose this life where people look at her differently, judge her based on her condition, or take away opportunities everyone else has, just because of the way she may act or look in comparison to others. When Cate hears people use the word in order to insult someone else, she believes that she is the insult. I have spent time with many mentally handicapped people, especially students, throughout my life. I participated in an international organization called "Best Buddies" which strives to create friendships between people with and without disabilities, as well as, my participation in Special Olympics for the past five years, and my work in classrooms that attempt to build inclusion at an early age in order to avoid this problem within the next generation. I may not be directly affected by the use of the r-word, but that word is hurting me just as much as it will hurt anyone who understands that being different does not mean exclusion.

Jessie Huggett, a 25-year-old woman who is diagnosed with down syndrome has had enough of the use of the r-word. A Canadian news outlet, Ottawa Sun, sat down with Jessie to better understand why this word affects her so much. Jessie explains that it is "really hurtful and its really offensive" when people say retarded in order to call others losers or idiots (Day). That word is directly representing her and the life that she was born with. In high school, Jessie explains that she was "judged and labeled because I [she] was different" (Day). Jessie, as well as every other student with disabilities, feel that the use of "retarded" limits their ability to express themselves in judge-free zones, and therefore they feel bullied by this word. Jessie is working hard to eradicate "retarded" everywhere. The campaign is all about awareness and by showing that someone who is diagnosed with down syndrome is so committed to the process definitely helps the argument of how this word is impacting the disabled. The credibility of this article is high because it is coming from a highly recognized news source in Canada. I found that getting a source from outside of our country was smart because it shows how this issue is a global one that needs addressing. The bias is high since the interviewed is personally affected by this word, and therefore she has zero support in using the r-word. Jessie made it very clear that by saying "retarded" is lowering the self esteem and uniqueness of each person living with these disabilities, and therefore the usage needs to come to a stop. 

It is important to understand that not only are people with disabilities affected by the use of the r-word, but also those who witness the pain. This is the case with Ellen Seidman who's 9-year-old son, Max, has cerebral palsy. Ellen worries if society will "ever respect him, or see him as an equal, if they associate that word with people like him, who have intellectual disabilities" (Grinberg). Ellen talks about the political use of the word as well, and how the Rosa Law has eliminated the use of the word, and now is represented in context as an "intellectual disability" instead (Grinberg). This article is mainly to explain the effect of this word on a child with disabilities, and to explain the progress this country has made to spread the word to end the word. Ellen talks about the ways in which this word is affecting not only her son, but also herself, making the ideas very prevalent to all readers. CNN is making society aware that saying "retarded" is hurting those with disabilities and without, and therefore the misuse of this word must stop in order to prevent this issue from occurring with the next generation. Credibility is high because CNN is a highly functioning and reliable news source in the United States. An interview with someone who does not have a disability shows how this word is affecting everyone. The bias will be strong to support ending the r-word due to their interview with one who is affected. Through Ellen's strong opinions and observations of the use of the r-word, this article will gain supporters who did not understand that this word affects everyone. 

The New York Times published their article on the countries fifth annual "day of awareness" in order to inform readers about the ending to the use of the r-word. The New York Times explains that saying "retarded" is "sharp with an assaultive potency that words like moron and idiot lost" back in the day (Downes). The word is attempting to be terminated through the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign by bringing awareness nation wide. John Franklin Stephens is also interviewed since he is personally affected everyday. John mainly aims to explain what it means for him to hear "retarded": "it means that the rest of you are excluding us from your group ... we are something outside the 'in' group. We are someone that is not your kind" (Downes). Since the New York Times is such a highly regarded organization and voice for much of America, writing an article about the r-word is very important to do on this day of awareness. By incorporating an interview with John, readers understand the impact "retarded" has towards people with disabilities, and the hurt that they are feeling inside. The credibility is high because John is personally affected, and that also makes his bias very strong. John is simply trying to help society understand that the r-word is not only a word, but a slap in the face to anyone who was born with intellectual disabilities.  

Past generations have seen the r-word as a medical term for those who were different, rather than as the insult they use it for today. Due to discriminatory history regarding race, sexuality, gender and the disabled, we see that society is unaccepting of those who are different. A new day in age is telling society to start accepting and understanding those different than ourselves. Sadly, change does not happen as fast as we would like, therefore campaigns like this are so important in order to spread awareness. All of my sources have agreed that saying "retarded" must be terminated in non-medical language. Interviews throughout, helped relate this problem to personal experiences. There were not many disagreements in any of my articles, though the CNN article did a lot of focusing on how the word is used in politics and the steps that have been made in order to end that as well. Each articles perspectives have only ensured what I believe in. Every time I hear from someone personally affected by the use of "retarded", I feel for that person and what they must go through every day. It is cases like these where I wish that the word would just terminate now so that those affected are no longer tortured by this slang. I think that my research question is very easy to understand, however I would like to focus more on the inclusion aspects as well. Those with disabilities are bullied everyday, not only by the r-word, and society should be aware of this as well. Overall, I believe that if people stopped saying "retarded", everyone would be more satisfied, especially those with disabilities. 

