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Advocates Push To Ban The Word 'Retard'

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Mar 1, 2010 5:43 pm US/Eastern

Advocates Push To Ban The Word 'Retard'

Join The Conversation: Battle Over 'The R-Word'

Reporting
David Robichaud
BOSTON (WBZ) ― Here in Massachusetts, there's an effort to get people to stop using the "R-word."

On Monday, a group will be collecting signatures at the State House asking people to pledge to support the elimination of that word from every day speech and promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

Last year, The Special Olympics launched a campaign of their own.

Recently, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel apologized to that group for using the word and Sarah Palin ripped Rush Limbaugh for repeatedly calling people "retards."

"Retard" is derived from the phrase "mental retardation" which many people feel is outdated and offensive. Massachusetts changed the name of The Department of Mental Retardation to the Department of Developmental Services in part to get rid of the stigma attached to the term retarded.

Still, some will say the effort to "ban" the word retard and to stop using the word retarded is overly PC.

What is your take on this? Is the word "retard" offensive to you? If so, how would you urge others not to use it? Do you think people are overreacting in efforts to "ban" the word?

Join the conversation on wbztv.com!

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