Lucky Bitch Radio with Wanda Wisdom

Wanda, don’t ever stop using the word retarded! The people making a big controversy out of nothing are, well, Retarded, but not in the good way like you are. The fact is that the word doesn’t really mean what it once did. Growing up, back in to seventies, when we called each other “retarded”, it conjured up images of Thalidomide babies, drooling vegetables in wheelchairs, kids with Downs Syndrome, you get the picture. Since then, we as a society have become a bit more sophisticated and “retarded” was cast off for more polite terminology such as “Special” or “Special Needs”, “Mentally Handicapped”, “Downs Syndrome” and “Thalidomide Babies”. Nowadays when someone says “Retarded”, it doesn’t mean any of those things…it’s more like the word “Fag”…we’re taking it back and owning it. When I say “retarded” or hear someone say it, I think “crazy mixed up midwestern drag queen” or “offbeat and unusual”. It’s all good. Besides, how can you be offended by someone referring to themselves as Retarded? If the pump fits….then prance around in it!

Thought provoking stuff with the power of words. Reminded me of one of my favorite quotes that came from a guy addressing the UN (or some other group of international do-gooders, I forget). “The United Nations reports that over ten thousand people starve to death each day, and most of you don’t give a shit. However, what is even more tragic is that most of you are more concerned about the fact that I just said a bad word than you are about the fact that ten thousand people are going to die today.” –Tony Campolo