Seriously, guys... why say Retard?

If an African American is called a nigger or hears another African American being called one, they have every right to be upset and every ability to explain why that term is insulting to them and their race. If a Chinese person is called a Chink, they have every ability to stand up for their race. If a Hispanic or Latino person overhears border or "hopping the fence" jokes, they have every ability to defend themselves verbally, or physically if need be. Even if a homosexual person hears the term fag or gay being used out of context or as an insult, they can stick up for themselves.

While it's wrong to use any of these derogatory terms in our daily conversation, people are finding it more and more acceptable to belittle those who can't defend themselves at all through using someone's condition and/or handicap as an insult. That's right, I'm talking about intellectually disabled people, or anyone with a handicap for that matter.

When did it become so okay to use the word retard? Some people may argue that they're using it in context, but show me an okay time when you can use retard? Tell me a phrase where that term is used in context and doesn't sound cruel. Your friend doing something silly or stupid does not warrant the right to call them a retard. I have never known someone with an intellectual disability who was stupid.

Calling someone who isn't black a nigger can still be an insult to that person and to someone anyone who is black. Calling someone who isn't mentally challenged (or even who is) a retard is still an insult, whether or not you're open minded enough to see it that way.

Why? Because it's using a part of them that they have no control over in a derogatory way.

I honestly want to know when it become acceptable to belittle someone, especially someone who can't defend themselves, by using their condition as an insult. Those who are mentally challenged did not ask for their condition; however, they are the sweetest, most tolerating, loving people I have ever met, and sometimes I prefer to socialize myself with them than the "normal" and "average" people in society. We should take a look at how they live their lives with such joy and happiness and figure out how we can do the same.
In the meantime, learn some respect and stop using the conditions these amazing people didn't ask to have and their lack the ability to defend as your own personal insult. Next time you say retard, remember how you would feel is someone made a racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory joke towards you. Now consider how it would feel if you didn't have the ability to defend yourself.

Please take 10 minutes out of your day to just watch this video and reflect on what it says and what it means: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoqaNG0Ozqc
This guy is basically my hero for doing this in front of his entire school because I don't know that I would have had the guts.