Examine individual changes

'@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ == Etymology == -The word retard dates as far back as 1426. It stems from the Latin verb, retardare, meaning to hinder or make slow. The English adopted the word and used it as similar meaning, slow and delayed. The first time the word "retard" was printed in American newspapers was in 1704. At this time, it was used in a way to describe the slowing down or the diminishing of something. The first time that any form of retard was used to describe mentally disabled people was during the 1960s when "there was a push among disability advocates to use the label ''mental retardation''".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = The Uses and Implications of the Term "Retarded" on YouTube|url = http://www.academia.edu/477376/The_Uses_and_Implications_of_the_Term_Retarded_on_YouTube|website = www.academia.edu|accessdate = 2015-10-23}}</ref> This push from advocates was because older terms for the mentally disabled, like moron, imbecile, feeble minded and idiot, [[Euphemism treadmill|had developed negative meanings]].<ref name=":0" /> Retard was not used to refer to mentally disabled people until 1985. It was widely accepted to refer to people who are mentally disabled as mentally retarded, or as a retard. From there, it turned quickly into a pejorative term, as people began to use it interchangeably with words like stupid, or idiot. Many communities, particularly in [[North America]], regard the word as no longer socially acceptable. The fact that it is still commonly used has led to a continuing debate. A common replacement is the phrase "the r-word".<ref>[[Mental retardation#Terminology]]</ref> +The word ''retard'' dates as far back as 1426. It stems from the Latin verb ''retardare'', meaning ''to hinder'' or ''make slow''<nowiki>. The English adopted the word and used it as similar meaning, slow and delayed. The first time the word "retard" was printed in American newspapers was in 1704{{</nowiki>[[Template:Citation needed|Citation needed]]<nowiki>}}. At this time, it was used in a way to describe the slowing down or the diminishing of something. The first time that any form of retard was used to describe mentally disabled people was during the 1960s when "there was a push among disability advocates to use the label </nowiki>''mental retardation''".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = The Uses and Implications of the Term "Retarded" on YouTube|url = http://www.academia.edu/477376/The_Uses_and_Implications_of_the_Term_Retarded_on_YouTube|website = www.academia.edu|accessdate = 2015-10-23}}</ref> This push from advocates was because older terms for the mentally disabled, like moron, imbecile, feeble-minded and idiot, [[Euphemism treadmill|had developed negative meanings]].<ref name=":0" /> Retard was not used to refer to mentally disabled people until 1985. It was widely accepted to refer to people who are mentally disabled as mentally retarded, or as a retard. From there, it turned quickly into a pejorative term, as people began to use it interchangeably with words like stupid, or idiot. Many communities, particularly in [[North America]], regard the word as no longer socially acceptable. The fact that it is still commonly used has led to a continuing debate. A common replacement is the phrase "the r-word".<ref>[[Mental retardation#Terminology]]</ref> == Modern use == -Retard has transitioned from an impartial term to one that is negatively loaded. For this reason, it is now widely considered degrading even when used in its original context.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sites.psu.edu/lebold2012/2013/03/27/retarded-is-the-new-gay-rough-draft/ |title="Retarded" is the new "Gay" – Rough Draft &#124; Food For Thought "Retarded" is the new "Gay" – Rough Draft &#124; Sam Lebold |publisher=Sites.psu.edu |date=2013-03-27 |accessdate=2014-06-06}}</ref> +"Retard" has transitioned from an impartial term to one that is negatively loaded. For this reason, it is now widely considered degrading even when used in its original context.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sites.psu.edu/lebold2012/2013/03/27/retarded-is-the-new-gay-rough-draft/ |title="Retarded" is the new "Gay" – Rough Draft &#124; Food For Thought "Retarded" is the new "Gay" – Rough Draft &#124; Sam Lebold |publisher=Sites.psu.edu |date=2013-03-27 |accessdate=2014-06-06}}</ref> -Much like today's widely socially acceptable terms ''idiot'' and ''moron'', which are also defined as some sort of mental disability, when the term retard is being used in its [[pejorative]] form, it is usually not being directed at people with mental disabilities. Instead, people use the term when teasing their friends or as a general insult when in an argument.<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://aaiddjournals.org/doi/10.1352/1934-9556-48.2.126?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed|title = Sticks, Stones, and a Stigma: A Study of Students' Use of the Derogatory Term 'Retard'|last = Siperstein|first = Gary|date = April 2010|journal = American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities|doi = 10.1352/1934-9556-48.2.126|pmid = |access-date = 22 October 2015|volume=48|pages=126–134}}</ref> This use of the word retard is the part of what the campaigners{{who?|date=March 2017}} are trying to attack. The campaigners are trying to make everyone understand that retard is a [[derogatory term]] no matter the context.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Why the R-word should become redundant {{!}} Mary O'Hara|url = https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/23/r-word-retard-become-redundant-campaign-us|website = the Guardian|accessdate = 2015-10-23}}</ref> +Much like today's widely socially acceptable terms ''idiot'' and ''moron'', which are also defined as some sort of mental disability, when the term retard is being used in its [[pejorative]] form, it is usually not being directed at people with mental disabilities. Instead, people use the term when teasing their friends or as a general insult when in an argument.<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://aaiddjournals.org/doi/10.1352/1934-9556-48.2.126?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed|title = Sticks, Stones, and a Stigma: A Study of Students' Use of the Derogatory Term 'Retard'|last = Siperstein|first = Gary|date = April 2010|journal = American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities|doi = 10.1352/1934-9556-48.2.126|pmid = |access-date = 22 October 2015|volume=48|pages=126–134}}</ref> == Legislation in the United States== @@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ == Organizations and campaigns == -The most popular campaign against use of the word "retard" is an organization called ''R-Word''. On its website, users can sign a pledge not to use the word in everyday speech. It is supported by [[Special Olympics]], Best Buddies, and 200 other organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.r-word.org/ |title=Spread the Word to End the Word |publisher=R-word |date= |accessdate=2014-06-06}}</ref> Special Olympics athlete and Global Messenger John Franklin Stephens posted an open letter to [[Ann Coulter]] on the Special Olympics blog on October 23, 2012. His letter expressed concern with a [[Twitter|tweet]] Coulter made using "retard" to describe President Obama.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shriver |first=Tim |url=http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/an-open-letter-to-ann-coulter/ |title=An Open Letter to Ann Coulter &#124; The World of Special Olympics |publisher=Specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com |date=2012-10-23 |accessdate=2014-06-06}}</ref> He had written an opinion piece about misuse of the word "retard" posted on the ''[[The Denver Post]]''{{'}}s website in 2008. +The most popular campaign against use of the word "retard" is an organization called ''<nowiki>R-Word{{</nowiki>[[Template:Citation needed|Citation needed]]<nowiki>}}</nowiki>''. On its website, users can sign a pledge not to use the word in everyday speech. It is supported by [[Special Olympics]], Best Buddies, and 200 other organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.r-word.org/ |title=Spread the Word to End the Word |publisher=R-word |date= |accessdate=2014-06-06}}</ref> Special Olympics athlete and Global Messenger John Franklin Stephens posted an open letter to [[Ann Coulter]] on the Special Olympics blog on October 23, 2012. His letter expressed concern with a [[Twitter|tweet]] Coulter made using "retard" to describe President Obama.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shriver |first=Tim |url=http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/an-open-letter-to-ann-coulter/ |title=An Open Letter to Ann Coulter &#124; The World of Special Olympics |publisher=Specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com |date=2012-10-23 |accessdate=2014-06-06}}</ref> He had written an opinion piece about misuse of the word "retard" posted on the ''[[The Denver Post]]''{{'}}s website in 2008. == References == '