Why Apologies Are Not Enough
To Rahm Emanuel, Rush Limbaugh, and all others who choose to use that word in that way:
Your apologies are not enough. It saddens and disappoints me that people in your positions and with your level of education have not elevated your sensitivity or vocabulary above that of the fifth grade. I challenge you to learn.
I will accept your apology when you have sat across the desk of a neurologist, therapist, pediatrician or educator and been told that your child is developmentally delayed, cognitively impaired, or mentally retarded.
I will accept your apology when you have changed an adult diaper, spoon fed a fifteen-year-old, or spent $40,000 of your own money on this therapy or that teaching technique just to hear your child say his or her own name.
I will accept your apology when you've seen the look on the faces of your children, the sudden wetness in their eyes, the blush on their cheeks, when they hear someone using that word, knowing that it refers (even if unintentionally) to their sister whom they love and adore.
I will accept your apology when you've spent sleepless nights cataloging every moment of your life trying to find out where you went so wrong to have irreparably damaged your own child and praying for the strength to move on.
I will accept your apology when you've looked into the eyes of the purest of souls and caught a glimpse of yourself, however small or fleeting, and realized that they are not here to learn but instead are here to teach.
I will accept your apology when you come to my home and meet my exceptionally beautiful daughter who may never go to college or have a child of her own, but who will undoubtedly capture your heart. And I guarantee you that you will never use that word in that way again.
Sincerely,
Fiauna Lund
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Comments
I work in a mental health facility, and we have had an intern who not only lacks a filter, but is just ignorant. She actually used that word at work. She also said, "That's so gay."
My supervisor had a looonng chat with her about her language.
The way you have expressed yourself and gotten to the crux of this issue is nothing short of superb, Fiauna, and I think you should send this to the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal Letters to the Editor sections. Others need to see and read what you've written.
As for me, with your permission, I will be linking to you in tomorrow's post.
Thanks.
Rachel
you express yourself like no other.
I agree with Sue, you really should send this in. More people need to see things this way.
And don't even get me started on how messed up it is that someone in his position says that and then has to be FORCED to apologize...
I think I would like to link to this post as well...
Now, when I hear my kids say retarded or adults say it, or it used over the pulpit in sacrament meeting, I cringe. But I don't know what to do about it. Thanks for a good way to teach my kids. I'll be referring to your post.