Beatrice Sophia C.

Parma

October 17, 2014

144587
EN 11
Ms. Inez Cortes

The R-word; The Social Stigma of the Special Needs Community

An Evaluation Essay on John C. McGinleys Spread the Word to End the
Word

One of the most effective methods of spreading awareness to the public

today is through advocacies via the Internet. The Spread the Word to End the
Word, is an organization that asks people for pledges to stop saying the Rword retard(ed). It is geared toward creating a world more accepting
towards all people, free of discrimination. The organization addresses the
issue that the use of such words fail to uphold the dignities of the individuals
belonging to the special needs community. The organization is aware of
possible negative comments such as the advocacys violation of an
individuals Freedom of Speech, however, such words clearly prove to have a
large negative impact on the individuals belonging to the special needs
community. These individuals are incapable of defending themselves, and
thus, the mere self-control necessary to refrain oneself from using the Rword is hardly demanding.

The article Spread the Word to End the Word was written by John C.
McGinley, a famous actor and Ambassador for Special Olympics Spread the

Word to End the Word efforts and is the father of Max and Billie Grace. His
son Max, was born with Down Syndrome and it was this event that led to his
aggressive participation in addressing the issue of the use of such demeaning
words to refer to individuals who belong to the special needs community,
specifically the R-word. It has come to the attention of the organization that it
has become a social norm to use degrading words such as nigger, faggot,
kike and retard. It was found that such words referring to specific groups of
people created a barrier of discrimination between them, it singles out these
individuals
Twelve years ago Max was born with Down Syndrome. His journey
has been complicated by infantile seizures, sleep apnea, dietary challenges
and now, puberty! Max has also (somehow), managed to become a medium
through whom other people are introduced to their own personal stories of
compassion and love and heretofore undiscovered capacity to revel in joy.
The article begins with an appeal to pathos as the author talks about his
personal experiences as he discussed what it was like having a son born into
a world where he would be degraded by the social constructs present in
society.

The article presents a situation wherein if iconic or famous people were

to use such derogatory terms, they would cause an immediate outburst from
the affected individuals and they would be laid off immediately. This is an
appeal to ethos as the writer states:

You are not likely to hear Rahm

Emanuel use the words stupid f-cking niggers! You are also not likely to hear
Rush Limbaugh use the words; Kikes are kikes. Nor, for that matter are you

likely to hear other media fixtures like Jon Stewart, Bill Maher and countless
others of their ilk, sprinkle their speech with words like; faggot, wop or spic.
Each of the individuals that were presented are considered to be influential to
the public and thus, are very much appropriate in strengthening the argument.

Unfortunately, it doesnt come by surprise anymore that it can be

assumed that a vast majority of people who use the R-word (i.e. "Retard" and
"Retarded"), are not even aware that their language is offensive and hurtful to
members of the special needs community. As John McGinley fights to create
a world where his son would not be considered inferior and treated with
discrimination, he calls out the world to help him attain this and this is an
appeal to pathos. However, the R-word is constantly used because of the
large to the lack of awareness that it is in fact degrading. Perhaps there is
some value in setting the record straight: the R-word hurts! And it makes no
difference that a person with special needs is not in earshot when the word is
spoken. Using the R-word perpetuates a negative stigma that belittles people
with special needs. And the casual nature in which the R-word is now thrown
about only makes the impact even more insidious and the trickle down affect
more persistent. The R-word hurts.

The article presents two solid arguments: First; is there a single instant
when the R-word is used as compliment? Do we find ourselves showering our
peers with the R-word after a great triumph or a significant achievement? Is
the R-word the stuff that support and elevation are made of? And second,
whenever we are compelled to use the R-word, would the circumstances

allow for substituting the N-word instead? Could the R-word just as easily be
replaced by any number of pejorative slurs that would serve the same
purpose? The answer to both these hypotheticals is; not in a million years!
Each of the arguments prove to be sound because there is nothing really that
is benefited from the use of such words. The use the degrading slang terms is
has become a fad amongst social groups and it has to stop.

The arguments presented in the article prove to be sound and are

reasonable. The pledge to stop the use of the R-word is hardly a demanding
task, and in exchange, it upholds the dignities and protects the individuals
belonging to the special needs community from foul and discriminatory terms.
Hearing it from a man who witnesses the discrimination and stigma brought
by such negative words helps strengthen the arguments. The awareness
brought by the organization will create a society more compassionate to these
individuals who are incapable of fighting for their own dignities. Awareness
awakens society to become more reluctant to the use of the R-word and more
sensitive not only to the special needs population but eventually to the whole
society as well.

References

McGinley, J. C. (2010, May 2). Spread the Word to End the Word. Retrieved
May 25, 2011, from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-cmcginley/spread-the-word-to-end-th_b_483157.html