respect
 |
Posted on January 8, 2012, 9:43 pm | 3 comments
Topics: Advocacy
A mother challenges the casual use of the word "retarded." "This is Maura. Her diagnosis? Cognitively disabled. Which means retarded. When you call yourself retarded, you’re also calling my child stupid. Because you use the word as just that – another form of stupid. Let’s get something straight here. . . . Maura is not stupid."
Read more » |
 |
Posted on November 8, 2011, 2:50 am
When we offer help to someone we can have the crazy notion that we need to fix the whole issue ourselves. We would do more for those we offer assistance if we understood our role as referring folks to the resources of our broader community, without abandoning them.
Read more » |
 |
Posted on June 14, 2011, 8:17 am | 14 comments
Topics: Synod
Ever since the “resignation” of our executive director, lots of questions have been raised. That’s fine. But lots of allegations have also been made. That’s not so fine. We need to remember that BOT members are volunteers, ministers and church members just like the rest of us...That doesn't mean we can't question
Read more » |
|
|
Posted on March 17, 2010, 4:11 pm
Topics: Advocacy
On the eve of the Paralympics in Vancouver, Canada ratified the UN Convention. Canada signed the convention in 2007 and ratified it on March 11, 2010. The US signed the Convention shortly after President Obama took office, but has not ratified it.
Read more » |
|
|
Posted on March 10, 2010, 8:33 am
Topics: Advocacy
Our language about people, and the way we treat people, to a large extent forms who people are. Athlete, actor, model, and bilateral below-the-knee amputee, Aimee Mullins reflects on language and her own experiences in this lecture. For those of us who believe in the power of the Word, we need to take seriously the power of our words as well.
Read more » |
|
|
Posted on February 10, 2010, 1:21 pm
Topics: Advocacy
For the most part, the n-word has been removed from spoken English, thank God. It's offensive, demeaning, and reminiscent of an extremely painful past for African Americans. An equally offensive word is the r-word, which I'll name here only to make clear what I'm talking about, "retarded," and it's even more offensive cousin, "retard." Recently, President Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, used the term "retarded" to describe...
Read more » |
