Retard Word Analysis

“Retard- delay or hold back in terms of progress, development, or accomplishment.” This word is used way to often to describe a person who is not mentally or physically handicapped. I used to tell people “you’re a retard” or “you’re retarded” when I was younger and didn’t understand what this word meant. The older I got the more brutal and hurtful I realised this word was. I have a good friend whose brother has assburger’s syndrome, his name is JD. When I met JD I realised that he was just like other kids except he learned a lot slower, but he was still extremely intelligent. He talked about how upset the “r word” made him and that is when I realised that this word is not something to joke around about; but it is a word used to describe someone with mental or physical developments. Many people suffer with mental retardation and it is no joke. When I played little league at the local recreation center there was a man named Melvin that helped around the center, as a child I never thought much about why Melvin looked and acted so different from all the other adults. I remember how people would tell their children “stay away from him.” or “don’t go near him”. People would always stop and whisper when he would walk by and I never understood because even though Melvin was a little different he always had a smile on his face, and would shake …show more content…
I thought maybe I could teach the special needs students something, but if anything they have taught me more. They are the sweetest and most compassionate people ever. One my best high school memories was when two of our special needs students won homecoming queen and maid of honor; those two sweet girls deserved it and in that moment I felt that the problem of how mentally challenged people are treated is slowly being