I have thought about the best way to approach David's latest blog response and I'll admit, I was running out of ideas. Until I read one of his own blogs about a video he posted on YouTube. (Which by the way is very interesting)

When David was explaining his video he said that he was so proud of the kids that came up to him because they asked questions. They didn't just accept something for what it was. They became curious and decided to ask questions about the crazy world we live in.

Well David, I decided to do that a long time ago with a specific word and a specific group of people. (And if you don't know what that is by now, you came in a little late)

About 4 years ago, I was in the gym playing dodge ball when I realized that there were a group of kids in the gym that weren't like the rest of us. And, no one was playing with them. Taking it upon myself to be the outgoing person that I always have been, I walk up to them and introduce myself and am instantly aware that these kids aren't like me. No, they are part of the Special Ed class.

I then start to wonder why I am the only one interacting with these kids...was there something wrong with them? Were they the kids that my parents told me to stay away from because they might have smallpox or lice? No...they were just different. They weren't normal. So, naturally, they stayed with their group and we stayed with ours.

Until, at least, I decided that I wanted to question authority and do something about this.

That same afternoon I wrote a note to my Principal asking if I could use my remediation block helping with this classroom. She was shocked because no one had asked to do this as was the teacher of the classroom, but I was welcomed with open arms. Literally.

I walked into this classroom the first day and saw these kids that were my age or younger and yet were so much different. They didn't judge me because I wasn't the most popular kid in school, they didn't judge me based on the clothes I was wearing...they were just open to whatever happened and the person I was.

After meeting and getting to know these amazing kids and how much they loved life I started realizing how much the word "retarded" is used in a negative way. And, honestly, kids my age are the worst offenders but it is moving to younger adults and even adults in their 30's. I was guilty of this as well, until I realized that being retarded isn't really a bad thing. But, generally when we call someone retarded or say someone's actions are retarded it is because they are acting stupid. They aren't doing something right, or they something wrong, or they forget something they should have known...things that can be controlled. This is very different from being mentally retarded.

Words like stupid, idiot, moron, and many others are associated with the word retard now. And it's our own faults that we let it happen. Those words though, aren't supposed to be synonyms for retarded. They used to have a very deep meaning in music meaning to slow or impede. But it's used for a lot more than that now.

Instead of just standing there and avoiding the problem like the people did in the mall David, I took a stand against it. You might think it's wrong. You might think it's completely idiotic. But the thing is, I don't care. I took a stand for something. I asked questions. I didn't just stand there while some guy stood in a mall reading a book with a sign. I didn't avoid the problem. I attacked it head on.

You might think that I'm just very sensitive about "a word." But it's not just a word to me. It's the meaning that we have given the word that simply isn't true. You might not have meant it in a negative way, but it wasn't meant as a personal attack on you. Just a reminder of the misuse of this word.

You are right, we do have the Freedom Of Speech in this country. However, the men that fought for this freedom might not have meant for their hard work and killed friends and family to have fought for something that most people take for advantage these days. I certainly don't mind you asserting your point of view. But at the same time, I want my point of view to be heard as well.

Maybe this will make a little more sense. And, if not, at least I tried and didn't avoid the different looking guy in the gym that day because he was something different that I wasn't used to.

***Argument about the Texas thing will be in a different one. This needed to be said first.***

For anyone that keeps up with my blog, you've probably noticed that Zero and I blog against each other quite a lot. We are both very opinionated people with very different views...which makes for interesting debates. Not to mention, we are both intelligent people...or so I thought, which makes for debates where the light bulb actually turns on every now and then. However, I think it's time that Zero get a dictionary because it seems he has taken a specific word and turned it into something that it is definitely not.

I encourage you to first read his blog here. OK, now that you've read that, let's begin.

Dear Zero,

Maybe somewhere along the line someone dropped you on your head or did something else to make you think that the word retarded has the connotation of being a bad thing. I would hope something like that happened because otherwise, you just look stupid by using it in the wrong way.

I'm also guessing you don't know anyone that is mentally challenged, retarded, slow, or any other synonym because if you did, you would also know that the word retarded does not mean what you think it means apparently.

By definition, retarded means: To cause to move or proceed slowly; delay or impede. Hum...that doesn't sound like the people you are referring to at all. Your welcome to think that those people making the decision are stupid, dumb, inconsiderate, and the list could go on. However, you are not welcome to call them retarded because they are not.

Retarded people have a mental illness that prohibits them from doing things that you and I take for granted everyday such as talking, walking, being in line with our emotions, growing up physically and mentally at the same rate, controlling our bodily functions, being able to form a sentence, being able to understand when someone is doing something they shouldn't be doing and many more.

Stupid people have the capability to make good decisions. The problem is that they just don't. Stupid people have the capability to do anything, but they are too lazy, don't care, or think they've made a right decision when they really haven't. They are more worried about American Idol than the real issues. They are more worried about their basketball bracket than the economy issues. They just don't care period.

You, Zero, have made a terrible error in your vocabulary. Anyone that has a relative or friend that is, in fact, retarded takes offense when you use that word in a derogatory way because it's not a bad thing. It just means they are different than regular people. And, even though they are different, they are some of the nicest, most loving people you will ever meet in your life. Different is OK contrary to popular belief.

And speaking of being different, what makes Texas stupid for wanting to eliminate evolution from the textbooks? Isn't it the same as banning teachers from talking about God or not having "One Nation Under God" in the Pledge Of Allegiance? You seem to be perfectly fine with people doing those things because it comforts your little belief system. But when someone attacks what you think is true, you get your drawers in a wad. There's something wrong with that isn't there?

In my opinions, neither one of them should be eliminated. Students should learn about both of them and then have the opportunity to choose which one they think really happened. That way, you are giving kids the opportunity to think for themselves. Which is something that is highly lacking in today's society.

Just because someone doesn't think they same way you do or believe in the same things you do, doesn't mean they are stupid. And it definitely doesn't mean they are retarded. Debate with that person. Make it known that you disagree. But what makes you right and them wrong? What makes you intelligent and them stupid? What gives you the right to say that someone else is completely wrong and must be retarded for thinking that?

I'll give you a hint...your answer should not be, "Because I Said So."