A U.S. Senate committee in May approved a measure to remove the words "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded" from federal labor, health and education laws to help remove what supporters describe as a hurtful label.
The bill, approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, would replace the terms "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded" with "intellectual disability" and "individual with an intellectual disability."
Essie has a few things to say about this.
Number 1 -- I can see how this is such an important issue that our Senate must take up time with it. After all, it would be different if we were facing record deficits or if we were hemorrhaging millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf or if we were fighting a war on two fronts or if we had a President determined to take over every aspect of our lives. But seeing as all those things aren't plaguing us right now, the Senate is making good use of its time.
Number 2 -- What does retarded mean? It means slowed down. I think I'd rather be called slow than intellectually disabled. Slow indicates that I can learn, just at a slower pace than others. Intellectually disabled sounds like I can't learn.
Number 3 -- Will all those mentally retarded people suddenly have whole new worlds opened up to them because we can't call them what they are anymore? I truly doubt it.
Number 4 -- Much as I disagree with it, I'll try to be pc -- it's time we get rid of all those "intellectually disabled" people in Washington!
Paris News funny: Speaking of "intellectually disabled," here's a headline from Sunday's paper: "Increasing enrollment make budget cuts a little easier." Perhaps that should be followed up with "News reporters enrolls in remedial English."
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breaking/panel-approves-removing-retardation-from-laws-94935124.html
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