Rush Limbaugh Endorses R-word

Day in Washington is a blog/podcast that addresses policy, not politics. However, the two are unalterably intertwined.

For people with disabilities, for anyone – how we talk to each other and how we treat each other not only reflects our society and culture, but can also shape it. The recent news coverage regarding Rahm Emanuel’s use of the R-word has brought some desperately needed attention to the issue.

It would seem though that the core issue of why people with disabilities were so incensed has missed some individuals. The following ts taken from radio personality Rush Limbaugh’s show:

LIMBAUGH: “Our political correct society is acting like some giant insult’s taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards. I mean these people, these liberal activists are kooks. They are looney tunes. And I’m not going to apologize for it, I’m just quoting Emanuel. It’s in the news. I think their big news is he’s out there calling Obama’s number one supporters f’ing retards. So now there’s going to be a meeting. There’s going to be a retard summit at the White House. Much like the beer summit between Obama and Gates and that cop in Cambridge.”

Taken from: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/03/limbaugh-palin-apologize/

I am disgusted. Mr. Limbaugh calls it “political correctness.” My grandma would have called it “good manners.” I was taught that regardless of whether you agreed or disagreed with someone, you should still treat them with respect. That every living person has inherent dignity and worth and is to be valued and treasured.

His comments only serve to highlight the inappropriate societal perspective that it is “okay” to belittle and denigrate people with intellectual disabilities. It tells me that he does not see people with disabilities as deserving of respect or as equals. It also tells me that perhaps his grandma should have taken a switch to him when he was younger. He might have learned better manners.

Tags: limbaugh, media r-word, news, rush, special olympics