[tweetmeme source=”luau” only_single=false http://www.URL.com%5D
On Saturday night, after his teammate Dwayne Wade was asked a somewhat inane question, LeBron James muttered, “that’s retarded” under his breath.
Not that I’m a LeBron fan, but it was disappointing.
What was even worse for me was his defense of his actions Monday morning:
“I didn’t understand the question,” James said. “…it’s the same as me saying, ‘I don’t think that’s a great question’ or, ‘I think it’s a stupid question.’ …I don’t know why someone would even ask him that question.”
As Charlie Zegers at About.com points out, then according to LeBron, “retarded” and “stupid” are synonyms.
Right.
Good job, LeBron!
It really got me down.
But I didn’t stay down too long. By the end of the day, I actually felt kind of good. It wasn’t LeBron’s comment or his defense that I felt good about. No, it was the across-the-board condemnation of both on sports radio here in Boston – from the morning shows into the evening hours, every sports radio talk show I tuned into, both on AM and FM, universally ridiculed LeBron for his use of the word.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the radio show hosts, but suffice it to say, I was pleasantly surprised that both left and right leaning personalities were on the same page on this topic.
Now, I’m not particularly PC. I do lean left on most politically social issues, but I also feel that the far left (along with the far right) has hijacked both the political discussion and process that is supposed to serve you and me. That being said, I feel there are some words that should be rarely, if ever, uttered – retarded is one of them.
It is hurtful; it is mean; it is lazy.
Kevin Arnovitz at the ESPN Heat Index Blog wrote this:
I also don’t think it’s hypersensitive to ask people to be more precise with their language — not as a political imperative, but because it’s so easy to do. This is life’s ultimate value play: We refrain from stigmatizing groups of people with our speech at very little cost, and we reap the benefit of collective dignity and knowing we didn’t hurt anyone. How does this play out in the practical world?
If a reporter asks a silly or inappropriate question, call it silly or inappropriate.
There was a time when the public reaction would have been to laugh at or ignore LeBron’s comment. I have come to realize that those that stand by and “let” hurtful things happen to others while they passively observe are just as guilty as those that perpetrate the hurt. Needless to say, it still happens, but it was nice to see that some progress has been made.
I hope that LeBron figures it out. Like it or not, he is a role model.
Run Luau Run 
i really, really dislike lebron for several reasons…this just adds to my list.
“It is hurtful; it is mean; it is lazy.”
Agreed. People always talk about sticks and stones, but I tend to agree more with the saying that the pen (or mouth) is mightier than the sword.
But I admire your outlook. You’re right – there has been a lot of progress on this topic in just a short amount of time. This wouldn’t have even been on the general public’s radar just 5 or 10 years ago (my perception anyway).
Wow, I was unaware that there was a backlash to LeBron’s use of the “R” word, and I am encouraged to read this. I have no words for LeBron, except, shameful.
I dislike LeBron James anyway. The fact that he saw nothing wrong with what he did and saying it was synonymous with “Stupid” just shows how ignorant he really is…
That being said…
I am SO guilty of being lazy with my interpersonal communication. I hate to admit it, but I use the word FAR too much. Funny thing is, I rarely, if ever used it prior to moving to Boston. I found that the way it is used here and it’s pervasiveness totally rubbed-off on me. Much like the word “wicked.” When I first moved here, I HATED the word wicked. And hated “pissah” even more. I find myself using THOSE terms way too much as well. I almost think it is a cultural thing too. I find that talk more like a “native” Bostonian while I’m at work too. Odd.
Anyway, I have a friend on the job who’s son is autistic. He lost his mind one day and went-off on several members of our work group for their pervasive use of the word “retarded.” To which one of the guys said “but your son ISN’T retarded, he has autism!” We got into a whole discussion of the word retarded, what it means, how it is used, etc. From that discussion I felt justified in using the term, because in most cases I was referring to my behavior, etc. and would NEVER use it to describe anyone with a disability. I just TRY to refrain from using it around my friend at work because of how he feels about it.
However, because of you and your posts on the subject (I think this is the 3rd time I’ve seen you write about it), and our one brief conversation about it. I have worked diligently to eliminate the word from my vocabulary. I still slip-up from time to time (usually in private), but every time it comes from my mouth, I think of your family, my friend from work’s family, my friend Kris’s family, my other work acquaintance’s family, Sheila’s family, Jen’s Family, etc. and how hurtful the term is to all of you.
Thank you.
Your message is spot on. Unfortunately I think the audience that can most benefit from it isn’t quite of the age where they’re sitting at work killing time reading blogs 🙂 I think a lot of these lazy and ultimately hurtful speech habits are picked up in middle and high school, where “bad” things are either “retarded” or (my pet peeve) “gay.” Schools could really benefit from this kind of eye-opening, preventative messaging. Maybe you could work with your local district? I think you have a great point and articulate it really well.