Why I hate the "R" word

"That's so retarded" "You are such a retard"

We hear these phrases so often and every time I hear it, it makes me cringe. The "R" word is something that I don't take lightly. People ask me why I am so sensitive to it because to them it isn't a big deal. Last night when one of my family members used that word, I expressed my hatred for that word and told them that they shouldn't use it. In response, they said that I just like to argue and that it isn't a big deal.
Truth is, I don't tell them not to say it just to start an argument. It really bothers me. Mental Retardation (MR) is a medical condition that someone is born with and that they cannot change. It isn't their fault, it isn't a bad thing. It is life. "Retard" has such a negative connotation to it that it makes it seem like people with MR have something negative about them. I have met and worked with some of the most amazing people. These people just so happen to have MR. They are loving and kind and funny and I could talk to them for hours. They always put a smile on my face and give the best hugs. Some things are harder for them to do but they do it anyways. They may do somethings in a different way but that is so beautiful to see. MR is a condition that allows real inner beauty to be shown. Using this condition as a sort of negative slang is not only offensive but so morally wrong. I realize that people see it as just a word but it isn't. People don't use the "N" word to describe something bad. Why? Because that is obviously offensive to African-Americans. Why is that so obvious but using the "R" word to describe something that went wrong or something that someone dislikes, not so clear? It doesn't make sense to me--those two things are equal.
This post is going to short, sweet, and to the point and I think I made my point:
It is not okay to call me a retard, it is not okay to call something in life that you dislike retarded, and it most definitely is not okay to refer to a person with MR as a retard. Stop using the "R" word.