The "R" word

“I want you to know that it hurts to be left out here, alone…Nothing scares me as much as feeling all alone in a world that moves so much faster than I do.” –John Franklin Stephens.

In more than one tweet Ann Coulter called President Obama a "retard". While many people called the comments "offensive and disrespectful", one man took it another step. John Franklin Stephens wrote a response to Coulter on a Special Olympics blog. He inquired as to why she would use such the word in such a shallow way, intended to insult. It is quite commendable that Stephens, a special Olympics athlete with Down Syndrome, who is so personally attached to the offensive remarks from Coulter was able to keep a positive message throughout his entire letter. He recognized that it is not just Coulter, but society as a whole that uses the R-word in such a way as an insult. He recognizes the dangers of the word and why it needs to be eradicated from not just her's, but everyone's vocabulary. It would be so easy to lose one's temper over an issue such as this but he keeps his cool and responds to her with an open arms approach, trying to help her understand why it is offensive and teach her a true meaning of the word.

A Catholic elementary school, St. Mark Elementary School, recently set a great example, especially Catholic schools but for all schools really. They held a rally to take the pledge to "spread the word to end the word." Joe Thomas, a professional football player for the Cleveland Browns, attended the rally and spoke to the crowd. He suggested replacing the meaning of the R-word to be respect and the "respect everybody, no matter who they are." Attending St. Mark is Brianna, a young girl with Down Syndrome. One teacher describes her as "a breath of fresh air." The school has set the standard for other Catholic schools to recognize that their job is not just to provide an education to "normal" children, but every child no matter of background or in this case mental capacity. Schools without a direct link to the "R-word", a student, faculty, or family member with a mental disability, should still follow this example to stand up to "Spread the Word to End the Word!"

The "R-word" wasn't always used as a derogatory term. It has evolved over the years to become a word that has a negative, insulting connotation. Just like how the word "gay" has somehow become a synonym for stupid, so was "retarded". One proponent of the campaign to end the R-word says "This word is only meant to describe conditions in the brain, and i believe it's the appropriate use of the word. As a society, we tend to judge anything we don't understand." She is right. Most people don't understand what it is to have a mental disability and over time the word has evolved to become this negative, insulting thing that is synonymous with stupid and dumb. Used in the proper way, the word is not insulting, not negative, not hurtful, nothing to be scared of.

The "R-word" actually hurts. Those with a mental illness or that know someone who has one, or even if they have no personal connection at all can easily be offended when this term is used inappropriately in a negative way. One mother of a child with an intellectual disability describes hearing the word as a bomb. She called it "That judgmental, dismissive, last-century word." She is right. It is ignorant to use the word in such a way and it must be stopped. The word isn't used in a way that reflects its true meaning and offends any who hear it. But most importantly it affects those who actually have a mental disability. It isolates them, demeans them, and puts them down. Another Mother says that the word perpetuates negative stereotypes about mental disabilities as well as horrible labels. She says "the disrespectful names that they are called or terms that people around us use very loosely." She poses a good point that many people don't really get the repercussions of using such language. 

I, personally, never use the "R-word". I also try to reprimand my friends whenever they do. Just hearing the word offends me and I have absolutely no personal connection to it. It is just purely used as  an offensive term against those that have no control over their own condition and they are isolated for absolutely no reason. It is not their fault and it is not something that is anyone's fault. Sticks and stones do break bones and words can hurt me.  

Invisible Children

Who?
Invisible Children (with capital letters) is an organization that works to help the invisible children (lower case) in Africa. Bobby Bailey, Laren Poole, Jason Russell are the three founders of Invisible Children. They are from Southern California and their decision to go to an area of Africa that was war-stricken to make a film became the beginnings of Invisible Children.


What?

They work in many different fields to help those suffering in Africa because of the rebel LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). They work to bring media attention to the problem. They achieve this through films, websites, LRA crises tracker, and touring throughout the United States in schools to spread the message and bring attention to these forgotten children. They also act to mobilize people to the cause. They hold international events, campaigns, film and music tours. They also work to protect those still at risk by putting up a radio network for natives to call for help when there is rebel danger, defection fliers, and other radios. They don't forget those that have already suffered from the tragedy. They have teacher exchange programs, scholarships, rehab centers and work to rehabilitate those that have been abducted and bring education to those without access otherwise. They try to keep the entire problem in mind, they don't just treat the short term consequences but also work to reach long term solutions.  

When?

Since 1987 Joseph Kony has been terrorizing east and central Africa. He and his Lord's Resistance Army abduct, kill and displace countless children and civilians. The founders of Invisible Children first learned about this atrocity in 2003 and founded the organization in 2004. They continue to work today and will in the future. 

Where?

The main focus of Invisible Children's efforts is in Africa. Most of their work is in the central or eastern part of the country. They began mostly in Uganda but as the problem has spread, so have they. The conflict with the LRA affects many countries including South Sudan, Uganda, Central Africa Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization also works in the United States to raise awareness of the cause, lobby for legislation to help, and try to bring volunteers to the cause. The two main countries that Invisible Children work in are Uganda and the United Sates. 


Why?
Invisible Children works tirelessly to help the invisible child soldiers and victims of abductions as well as other tragedies in Africa. There are so many people in need there that have no voice to ask for help. Invisible Children works to provide aid to these people and stop the horrors that still occur there today. There are still so many people that are affected by the LRA's atrocities today despite the great work Invisible Children has done so far. They have done amazing things but there is still so much to do and so much to still help with. We believe in the equal and inherent value of all human life. They fight for those without the ability to fight for themselves because "We believe that a worldview bound by borders is outdated and that stopping injustice anywhere is the responsibility of humanity everywhere."

The work that Invisible Children is doing is truly remarkable. They are giving a voice to those that would otherwise be unable to speak or be heard. Their cause is one that should be near and dear to everyone's hearts. They have already done so much, but there is so much left to do and so many ways that all of us can and should help. 

First Commandment

"I am the Lord, your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me"

Most people know this commandment as it is the first. But how many follow it? In today's world, it seems that fewer and fewer people follow this commandment. However true that is, it is not anything new. People of all monotheistic faiths throughout history have also struggled with this. Famously, directly after Moses received the Ten Commandments, he returned to the Israelites and discovered them worshiping a golden calf. This was not the first time people turned to worldly things or other gods instead of the "one true God", nor would it be the last. There are two main categories that violations of this commandment can be separated into. 1) worshiping other, false, gods before God. 2) putting worldly things before God. 

Teenagers have a history or questioning authority and rebelling against their upbringing. In 2013 this is no different. While obviously not all teens fit this stereotype, many do. Many don't attend church, practice their faith, and some don't believe in God at all. Some of this is because believing in God isn't cool or going to mass isn't cool. Again this isn't true for all teens. I can count on one hand the number of teenagers I know that go to church on a regular basis. Even smaller than that is the number that actually want to go. But I do have some friends that take their faith very seriously, actually enjoy it, and appreciate and practice the theological virtues of faith, hope and love on a religious basis.

I also have many friends that are atheist or agnostic. They don't follow the first commandment by an active choice. They choose to deny the existence of God or higher power, or that it can never be proven that there is a God. It is a choice that it is their right to make (whether you believe it is a God-given right or not is up to you). They don't worship a false god, nor do they worship any god yet this is considered against the first commandment. The other 9 commandments are derived from this first commandment and by that logic many people believe that those that don't follow the first commandment cannot follow any of the commandments by extension. I think this is simply untrue. You can believe in God, be in church every Sunday and still be an awful person just as you can practice no religion, deny the existence of God and be a wonderful person that still leads a good, moral life.

Many more people are guilty of breaking the First Commandment in the second sense. Putting worldly things before God in their lives. This practice is a form of idolatry. People often put many things ahead of God:

Money

Sports

Winning

Fame

Entertainment 

The list goes on and on. These are all forms of modern day idols. People may not bow down to them and pray to them but they are far too often placed before God in their lives. These worldly things become far too important in peoples lives than they should. People also place celebrities on the same pedestal. Giving them much more power over their lives than God because they are here on earth. People that don't believe in God often site that there is no proof, we can't see it. Even those that do believe in God turn to worldly things for the immediate gratification they get form them because they are here on Earth but "the only true happiness can come from God"

Following the First Commandment has gone by the wayside for many people. It is important to follow it, for most people. Many break the commandment without realizing it and without recognizing it as an actual sin. I consider myself a fallen Catholic. My beef isn't with God, it is with the Catholic Church's practices in the world today. But I still feel I can have a relationship with God, follow the First Commandment, and be a generally good human being without being affiliated with any particular religion. There are those that may consider this to be heresy but I don't consider it to be. If it is okay for others to practice religions that aren't Catholic or Christian, why shouldn't it be okay for someone to be independent of a particular faith but still follow the Commandments? I believe in God and I try to follow the First Commandment but I don't think you have to be a part of the Catholic Church, or any established religion for that matter, to do so.

Racism

Emmett Till - Trayvon Martin - Jordan Davis

Emmett Till's story took place in 1955, almost 60 years ago. He was brutally beaten and kill for allegedly flirting with a white woman while visiting family in the south. Both of his attackers were tried for murder, but were acquitted by an all white jury. He was just 14-years-old. The injustices here are too many to number. He was an innocent minor, unarmed. His life cut short because men decided to "take matters into their own hands". But what matters? He had done nothing illegal, he had caused no harm to anyone and what they did accuse him of was under considerable question as to whether or not he actually did it. 

Fast forward 57 years to 2012. What has changed? Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old visiting his father's fiancee near Orlando. He went to the store and purchased Skittles and an iced tea and was walking home. A member of the local neighborhood watch, Zimmerman, determined that he was "up to no good". After calling the police and being told not to follow the teen, Zimmerman ignored their request and followed Martin. An altercation ensued and Zimmerman shot and killed the unarmed minor. What was his crime? He wore a hoodie. A similar case was Jordan Davis'. He was playing music too loudly in his car with some friends. After a gun that never existed was pointed at a man that had asked them to turn down the music, 8 or 9 shots were fired at the teens, killing Davis. 

After nearly 60 years...what has changed? If anything these cases have gotten worse. Racism cannot be denied. It exists today more than ever. The spectrum of discrimination has widened to include Hispanics and those of middle eastern descent. To some every Hispanic is  here illegally and came to take your job while all people from the middle east are terrorist that want to murder Americans!!! While of course this fear is completely illogical, it exists in many even though not all voice their opinions. 

This crude and awful cartoon is an extreme example of how many racists, those both vocal and those that keep their bigoted, opinions to themselves, feel. There is no denying that there is a huge problem when smut like this should have been eliminated from our country years ago but it is in fact alive now, maybe more than ever. While great strides have been made 

for civil rights and equal opportunity, there is no controlling peoples opinion. These extreme cases possibly resulted from flaws in government or law enforcement, but the real killer, literally, was the opinions of a select few that resulted in the deaths of innocent youths that were totally unarmed and totally defenseless. This cartoon is so racist, so bigoted, so prejudiced, so many things that are wrong with the world today but that sadly it is still how some people feel! After 60 years nothing has changed from Till to Martin and Davis! Under the law advancements may have been made but in reality so many minds still cling to the horrible sentiments that cripple personal liberty and freedom and directly oppose the principles that this country was founded on. ALL men are created equal. Not all men are created equal so long as you know your place and stay there. What does it say about America if a young man walking home from buying candy is murdered for wearing a hoodie and being black!!! The final blow that takes this instance from being horrible to catastrophic is that many feel his actions were justified. He felt threatened therefore it must be okay to murder an innocent boy that did nothing buy buy some candy.  

Acquittal - The men that kidnapped, beat, and murdered Till were tried for murder but acquitted. This is another horrid injustice from these tragic cases. Not only did these men commit heinous crimes for no reason other than prejudiced against innocent black youths, they got away with it. In the 50's this case had absolutely no chance of charging two white men with murdering a black boy and actually punishing them. We would like to think that this is not the case today and to some extent it isn't. The judicial system is much fairer now and the guilty will be punished for their crimes - usually. However when Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin, the police detained him but never arrested him because he claimed self defense against an unarmed teenager. This is a little more than unfair and fishy. Lets just hope the future holds something better than the past but there is no doubt that racism is still alive and doing well...