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I assume he means that humorously as a dig at politically correct speech. Is that the impression you get from him?
I think he is quite serious....He is a neighbor who lives down the street and he is very sensitive on alot touchey subjects....One day we were talking about our families and I asked him if his parents were dead...He's about 50...(I guess I shoulda said,,"are your parents still alive?").....He answered back quickly..."yes, my parents are DECEASED !!!"... I felt like saying..."WTF is the difference?"
I don't go out of my way to be anti PC....I always try to remain diplomatic around new aquaintences....However, I'm 73 and retired for the past 20 years and I don't have to worry anymore about getting sent down to Industrial Relations (Siberia) for 2 weeks of "sensitivity training"....
I would not invite him over for a beer....I'm a bit of a friendly crackpot but I don't feel comfortable in banter with him.....Other neighbors say he is being medicated....He seems a good citizen and he keeps his front yard quite tidy and it's a plus for the neighborhood....That makes him OK in my book.....
Thankfully, language evolves with consciousness. Thankfully, because so much of our language and terminology is rooted in racism and denigration, and we eventually move past it.
The words for a gay individual, a black individual, a developmentally or physically challenged individual, and terms relating to denigrations of women are put behind us as we grow up and learn to tolerate and respect differences.
Editors have to keep up on these language/terminology changes or be left behind in the dust with lost jobs. We have to keep up with Associated Press (AP) style, which has its own manual of English usage, as well as standard references such as dictionaries and Chicago Manual style, etc.
I would not want to live in a world with the same terms we formerly used for individuals who are different from what is wrongfully perceived as the norm. Thank goodness for human consciousness.
RiverBird, You are SO right. I could cite dozens, if not hundreds of examples, but I will speak specifically of a friend of mine who used to live near us. [ the reason for choosing this one particular person will be disclosed at the end of this post]
As it has hurt many people with developmental disabilities [including intellectual] my friend Sharisa was
taunted mercilessly as a child in many different ways, including being called retarded in a derisive manner. She was diagnosed as having an IQ of 47, which is quite low intellectually.
Part of the reason for the diagnosis is because Sharisa never spoke. She still has never spoken. BUT she 'has at least one college degree, is a past president of AUTCOM, and is one of the most brilliant writers I have ever met. She is also responsible for co-writing a number of laws to protect the independence of disabled people.
Even if retarded was not a term most often used in either a cruel or at least ignorant manner, it is a term that those of us who are developmently disabled, find disgusting. In my circle, the "R" word is not tolerated. And I have not known any non-narcisstic people who have continued to use this terminology after realizing how offensive it is to so many people.
Sharisa is a proud Autistic [as am I, as are most of my peers] and a successful woman. BUT... because of negative misconceptions, my friend has had her freedom ripped from her and she is now rotting in a foster home in Colorado. Sharisa does need help with some of her physical functions, but Jefferson county, in its' "infinite wisdom" has decided that her recently diagnosed as Autistic father, can not be her caretaker.
Please look up Sharisa Kochmeister and her petition, "Free Sharisa Joy." and please sign it. And those of you who still choose to use "the R word," I can think of a slew of well deserved words for you.
Our advertising-oriented society changes euphemisms as often as some people change socks... thinking, 'If I call XYZ, ABC - people will think I've come-up with something new. In truth, there is noting new under the sun.
As people age, they will inevitably 'stop working' by either choice or necessity. Calling it 'income-free leisure' instead of 'retirement' isn't going to change that.
This.
A septic tank called a "rose" will NOT Smell as sweet. But a rose, by any other name will smell just as sweet.
We could use the UK version....." redundant ".
"I've been made redundant " they say...and it sounds more like one's total accomplishments and life was as if it never existed.
Call it what you will, but this politically correct crap is getting carried away.
Perhaps we should call retirement " work challenged " instead.
Ugh.
Ill be happy to call it "retirement ".
Since this is an old post, perhaps we should make it redundant and retire it!
I want my obituary to read "he died", not he "passed away" Passed away sounds like I slipped out of my chair under the table and was never seen again. If I "pass away" does that mean I could "pass by" or just was "passing through" and stopped in to visit?
The word retired.......nope I hope it never goes away. Just like running a marathon you fight, charge and bring everything you got to reach that finish line. Is it the end? No you savor your accomplishment and move on to the next challenge.
I am looking forward to uttering that word over my lips........retired.. I do not need some Madison Avenue ad guy trying to fit me into a new age category in order to market me something they want to sell.
I will still be and always will be a Baby Boomer retiree
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Even if retarded was not a term most often used in either a cruel or at least ignorant manner, it is a term that those of us who are developmently disabled, find disgusting. In my circle, the "R" word is not tolerated. And I have not known any non-narcisstic people who have continued to use this terminology after realizing how offensive it is to so many people.
