Last year, President Obama attempted a self-deprecating joke on The Tonight Show, when he compared his notoriously bad bowling skills to the Special Olympics. The disability community demanded an apology and the President delivered one to Tim Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics Committee. A few weeks ago, Rahm Emanuel had to repeat the apology when he referred to a group of liberal activists as “f-ing retarded.” Sarah Palin called for Emanuel to be fired and again became a target for shows like The Colbert Report, and Bill Maher.
Whether you believe Sarah Palin’s outrage is sincere or think she is capitalizing on a media opportunity, the fact remains our political leaders are speaking like playground bullies. Why wouldn’t they when it’s perfectly acceptable on prime time television? I find it incredibly disturbing for pop culture to launch what seems like an all out assault on the mentally challenged when what they really want to do is hurt Sarah Palin. Recently, Family Guy aired an episode where a character with Down syndrome suggests she is the daughter of Sarah Palin. Palin blasted the show’s creator Seth MacFarlane and received no apology.
Bill Maher discussed the episode with MacFarlane and used the opportunity to attack Governor Palin. According to Maher, “Americans have voted with their vernacular, they need the word ‘retarded’. They use it constantly… Ironically, because of people like Sarah Palin, the country has become so stupid we need the word ‘retarded’ to constantly describe what is going on in America.” I’m not sure if by “we” Maher is referring to the American people or the group of intellectual elites that he places himself. Either way, I find Maher’s constant attack on America’s intelligence another despicable bullying tactic.
In the spirit of political correctness MacFarlane responded with, “You’re not going to call a person with a mental challenge ‘retarded’ …you’re just not gonna do that anymore…no one with any sense uses that term in that way…”
What about “faggot,” MacFarlane? Do you think it’s okay to call someone a “faggot” as long as they are not actually gay? I mean no one calls an actual gay person THAT anymore. No one with any sense would do such a thing.
I spend a lot time trying to change people’s minds about disability. My website RethinkingAutism.com is devoted to encouraging a paradigm shift in the way we view autistic people. I’ve written a book dedicated to parents of kids with special needs for I know how much support and encouragement is needed. This intentional use of language by individuals like Maher exhibits a twisted rationale designed to make one feel better about being a bully. It is precisely the reason why most special needs individuals are bullied and discriminated against by both children and adults. Sadly, I have seen this happen to my own child.
One of the many benefits of raising a special needs child is the incredible community of parents that I’ve met. Dr. Ross Porter, a clinical psychologist and proud father of a Down syndrome son is one of those people. Dr. Porter states, “There is no question in my mind that we live in a ‘culture of cruelty,’ a culture that bullies whenever it can. Why? There isn’t enough space here to explore the complexities of the question (although it is certainly worth exploring), but start with rampant narcissism and the crisis of fatherhood. Suffice to say in 20 years of clinical practice I’ve never seen so much bullying…of those who can’t defend themselves. The rampant use of the “R” word typifies my point. Special needs persons have always been vulnerable, and historically seen as being less valuable. They are not media savvy, don’t form a big voting block, don’t have tons of money to throw at politicians, and don’t hobnob with the Ivy League elite. It’s easy to pick on them…they won’t fight back. Some usage of the “R” word is due to ignorance, but I believe most often people use it because they know they can get away with it. This needs to stop.” Dr. Porter and his wife Jennifer run Stillpoint Family Resources, a group of nine clinics throughout southern California that provide affordable mental health care to families and individuals in need.
The mentally challenged have spoken and do not wish to be referred to as “retarded”. That is not what this is about. This is about using the word in a derogatory manner, with the intent of hurting another person. While I applaud the inclusion of disabled people on television shows in a natural setting, I find it hard to believe that this was McFarlane’s intent. The scene in which a young woman with down syndrome is out on a date with one of the main characters seemed innocent enough. However, the insinuation that the girl was the daughter of Sarah Palin was meant to be funny. What is so funny about that?
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