Over the past years, people with a mental disability have been referred to as having mental retardation. However, many people have twisted the use fo the word to become a slur agaisnt those who are not as smart as others. People need to realixe that this word can hurt. And when it hurts, it can hurt for a lifetime. The word retard, or retarded has come to mean something more that that. It is crude and just plain wrong.
However, I believe that a new word ( Intellectual disability) for this slur is not the answer. For one thing, i don't think that anyone will make use of this word because it is to long to say. Secondly, if people do use this word, then the use of it will one day be so great that it to will become a slur against the mentally retarded. Then we will all be back to where we are now.
I do not pretend to have the answer because I don't. However this is not the way to go. If it is directed towards someone who truly is disabled, then action should be taken. But if the person is not mentally challeneged, and someone says that they are retarded, then that person ahould just brush it off and go on with their life.
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