Look up "idiot" in the dictionary, and you will see that it is a word used to describe someone with an intellectual disability, the R-word, if you will. We, as a culture, think nothing of throwing this word around, calling other people that in a disparaging way, telling stories on ourselves in all the ways we act and look like an "idiot," and using it in everyday conversation.
I wish I had a nickel for each time I've heard someone say, "He looked/talked to me like I was an idiot." I'd take all those millions of nickels and start an aggressive campaign to end the ignorance (which refers to someone that simply doesn't know, not someone that is "stupid").
Let's break that apart: One could assume that the person saying such a thing thinks only idiots deserve to be spoken to or looked at in a way a person of normal, or please, Lord, above normal, intelligence should be looked/spoken to.
One could assume that being an "idiot"is a terrible thing to be, and therefore any insinuation that one is such a thing, is a huge insult.
One could assume because true idiots aren't capable of understanding the simplest of things, they belong in a sub-human category, undeserving of respect.
It may seem like a small thing to most people - word choice - but it's not. What we say reflects what we think. We, as a culture, have to think differently. We need to choose our words carefully. We need to at least show respect, even if we can't quite get ourselves to a place where we internalize and feel nothing but compassion for all sentient beings.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, "There is compassion, and there is everything else." I believe there are people that operate from a place of worthiness, their own, and the inherent worthiness of others, all deserving of compassion.
And then there's everyone else.
Carrie is a parent and advocate of a
child with special needs and even more special gifts. She blogs at
http://carrielink.blogspot.com/ where this is pretty much her favorite
topic. Carrie’s book, WIL OF GOD: Embracing the Relentless Love of a
Special Child, is available in print on Amazon and all e-readers.
Well said. It takes practice to be aware of how we are speaking and the messages we are trying to convey. I am all for the creative use of metaphors and analogies, but I agree that we ought not to simply parrot words without truly understanding what they mean.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Did you use these words before you had a special needs child? If so I would love to see/read how you came to your current views/opinions about certain words. Was it a lightbulb moment? Or a gradual learning?
ReplyDeleteI think most people do better when they know better and you are teaching many.
shijun 6.1
ReplyDeleteburberry bags
michael kors canada
burberry handbags
tory burch outlet
michael kors outlet online sale
coach outlet
michael kors handbags
coach outlet
gucci bags
hollister outlet
adidas wings
ray ban sungalsses
abercrombie
air jordan 4
oakley sunglass
ray ban outlet
polo ralph lauren
michael kors uk
jordan 11
coach outlet store online
timberland boots
michael kors outlet
christian louboutin shoes
michael kors
michael kors watches
louis vuitton outlet
louis vuitton
louis vuitton outlet
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet
jordan retro 8
christian louboutin outlet
louis vuitton
lv handbags
fitflops
michael kors
white timberland boots
jordan 11s
jordan shoes
louis vuitton handbags
20150714 junda
ReplyDeletepolo outlet
tory burch outlet online
michael kors watches
oakley store
true religion jeans
ralph lauren pas cher
cheap oakley sunglasses
christian louboutin shoes
michael kors
kate spade outlet
coach outlet online
michael kors
cheap ray bans
michael kors handbags
kate spade handbags
coach factory outlet
ray bans
tory burch handbags
tn pas cher
ray-ban sunglasse
tory burch outlet
true religion
jorda femme pas cher
michael kors
louis vuitton sacs
gucci sito ufficiale
ed hardy clothing uk
burberry sale
ralph lauren homme
louis vuitton sito ufficiale
oakley sunglasses outlet
mont blanc
kate spade bags
gucci uk
beats by dre
ray ban glasses
cheap air max
polo ralph lauren uk
true religion sale
soccer jerseys for sale
michael kors handbags
ReplyDeleteair max 2015
ray ban
ed hardy t-shirts
atlanta falcons jersey
foamposite gold
gucci shoes
dallas cowboys jersey
the north face clearance
san antonio spurs jerseys
cheap oakley sunglasses, http://www.oakleysunglasses-outlet.us.com
michael kors uk
coach outlet, http://www.coachoutletonline-store.us.com/
michael kors outlet online, http://www.michaelkorsoutletonlinstore.us.com
ugg boots
supra footwear
herve leger dresses
mcm handbags
mulberry uk
toms outlet
cheap football shirts
ray ban sunglasses, http://www.ray-bansunglassess.in.net
nike running shoes
abercrombie and fitch
cheap wedding dresses
abercrombie
ralph lauren uk
lebron james shoes
hollister shirts
nfl jerseys wholesale, http://www.nfljerseys-wholesale.us.com/
2015908caihuali
jimmy choo, ray ban wayfarer, hair straightener, supra shoes, ralph lauren outlet, bottega, hermes, ugg boots, timberland boots, the north face, roshe run, ralph lauren, pandora, puma online shop, michael kors outlet, michael kors outlet, toms outlet, ralph lauren outlet, ugg boots, pandora jewelry, ferragamo, jordan retro, wedding dresses, rolex watches, swarovski, prada handbags, vans, mizuno running, louis vuitton, jordan retro, abercrombie, horloges, softball bats,
ReplyDelete2015-10-21 xiaozhengm
ReplyDeletecoach outlet online
Ugg Boots,Ugg Boots Outlet,Ugg Outlet,Cheap Uggs,Uggs On Sale,Ugg Boots Clearance,Uggs For Women
Air Jordan 3 "Infrared 23"
michael kors outlet online
louis vuitton handbags
Michael Kors Outlet Handbags Wholesale
michael kors outlet
Authentic Louis Vuitton Handbags Outlet
Red Bottom Shoes Christian Louboutin
ugg sale
uggs clearance
jordans for sale
Jordan Retro 8 Playoffs
michale kors outlet
coach outlet store online
Authentic Gucci Factory Outlet
Canada Goose,Canada Goose Outlet,Canada Goose Jackets,Canada Goose Sale
canada goose jackets
coach factory outlet
Michael Kors Online Store Outlet
coach factory outlet
Authentic Coach Factory Outlet Online
Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Outlet
michael kors handbags
canada goose jackets
ugg boots on sale
abercrombie and fitch
air max 95
toms
Air Jordan Shoes For Women And Men
Jordan Retro 8 Playoffs
Toms Shoes Sale Clearance
ralph lauren uk
Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM Monogram
canada goose outlet
chenlina20151128
ReplyDeleteray ban sunglasses
michael kors outlet
canada goose coats
michael kors outlet online
louis vuitton outlet
michael kors outlet stores
uggs for men
burberry outlet
michaek kors outlet
louis vuitton outlet
uggs outlet
cheap toms
toms wedges
lebron 11
coach factory outlet
ray bans
ugg boots
ugg boots
ray ban sunglasses
louis vuitton outlet
jordan retro 11
ugg australia
michael kors outlet
christian louboutin outlet
replica watches
christian louboutin
nike free runs
ugg boots outlet
toms shoes
oakley sunglasses
gucci handbags
coach factory outlet
louis vuitton handbags
gucci outlet
cheap uggs for sale
michael kors outlet
ray ban sunglasses outlet
michael kors outlet
true religion outlet
louis vuitton outlet stores
as
20151222dongdong
ReplyDeletechristian louboutin outlet
longchamp handbags
michael kors handbags
nike trainers
louis vuitton
kate spade
michael kors outlet
air max
cheap uggs
cheap toms
kate spade outlet
sac longchamp pliage
true religion outlet
michael kors outlet
cheap jordans
adidas gazelle
louis vuitton handbags
ghd
ralph lauren pas cher
sac longchamp
louis vuitton handbags
christian louboutin
michael kors outlet
air jordan 8
burberry outlet
coach outlet
ed hardy outlet
fake oakley sunglasses
nike blazer
cheap oakley sunglasses
toms outlet
michael kors handbags
true religion outlet
fitflops clearance
coach outlet
soccer jerseys
nike uk
coach canada outlet
ugg boots
canada gooses
2016-3-29 xiaozhengm
ReplyDeletekate spade outlet
jordan pas cher
chaussure louboutin
rolex submariner
cartier watches
instyler max
ghd flat iron
polo outlet
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet
coach outlet online
valentino shoes
coach outlet
prada outlet store
coach outlet online
ray ban
levis jeans
coach outlet
supra for sale
michael kors outlet
christian louboutin outlet
coach purses
coach outlet
converse shoes
ed hardy uk
ture religion outlet
canada goose jacket
ray bans
armani watches
michael kors outlet online
toms wedges
jimmy choo shoes
true religion outlet
canada goose uk
canada goose
fitflops
under armour shoes
nike air max shoes
converse
nike cortez
jianbin0708
ReplyDeletetimberland boots
oakley sunglasses
michael kors outlet clearance
longchamp outlet
pandora jewelry
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet
coach outlet
ray ban sunglasses
swarovski outlet
hollister shirts
michael kors handbags
adidas shoes
hollister shirts
ray ban sunglasses sale
louis vuitton neverfull
hermes birkin bag
coach outlet
louis vuitton outlet store
ralph lauren uk
tiffany and co jewelry
fitflops sale clearance
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors outlet
polo ralph lauren
cazal sunglasses
prada outlet online
ray-ban sunglasses
hermes belt
hermes outlet
polo ralph lauren
nike free 5.0
louis vuitton handbags
ReplyDeletepolo ralph lauren outlet
coach factory outlet
gucci outlet
louis vuitton
coach outlet clearance
cheap ray bans
michael kors
coach factory outlet
adidas uk
20170228lck
michael kors outlet
ReplyDeletetrue religion runway
nike huarache ultra
michael kors handbags
christian louboutin sale
polo ralph lauren
polo ralph lauren outlet
christian louboutin heels
under armour outlet
ralph lauren outlet
hzx20170512
cavaliers jerseys
ReplyDeleteray ban glasses
tigers jerseys
longchamp
michael kors outlet canada
cheap air max
kate spade outlet online
ralph lauren sale clearance uk
adidas outlet store
polo ralph lauren pas cher
170620yueqin
thibaut courtois jersey
ReplyDeletecoach outlet store online
occhiali da sole ray ban
ralph lauren italia
coach outlet online
coach purses
north face jackets
oakley sunglasses outlet
under armour shoes
burberry sale
hzx20170620
Thanks again for the blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on…
ReplyDeleteTangki Fiberglass
Jual Septic Tank
Tangki Kimia
Jual Talang Fiber
Jual Rotameter
Tangki Panel
jual mesin ro
Jual Botol Plastik Agro
Jual Botol Plastik
nike tennis
ReplyDeletecoach outlet
coach outlet
flops
nike outlet
supreme
fitflops
jordan 4
jordan 1
nfl jerseys
20183.24wengdongdong
fila shoes
ReplyDeletenike shoes for men
fenty puma
nike air max 2018
cheap jordans
jordan shoes
michael kors outlet online
nike dunk low
puma fenty
adidas superstar
kate spade outlet
ReplyDeletephilipp plein shirt
toronto blue jays jerseys
longchamp handbags
nike shoes
tory burch outlet
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet
pandora jewelry
cheap jordans free shipping
cc20181002
pandora jewelry outlet
ReplyDeletesuicoke sandals
uggs outlet
hermes bags
coach outlet online
jordans
adidas outlet store
michael kors outlet online
air max pas cher
ugg outlet sale
20190304yuanyuan