Dear Mr. Limbaugh:
I incredulously listened to the segment in your show in which you repeatedly and offensively used the term "retard" in reference to our meeting with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
As a public figure, you have the great opportunity to influence the hearts and minds of millions of people in this country and around the world. People with intellectual disabilities - the largest group of people with disabilities in the world - have suffered generations of discrimination and humiliation. In the 21st century, they, together with their families and friends, are continuing their battle for the simplest form of justice: the justice that comes with a recognition of their full humanity. In their eyes and in the hearts of millions of others who love and care about them, language is important. So together, we have chosen to try to sensitize others to the pervasive but often ignored prejudice they suffer by asking for a change of language and a change of heart. For you or for anyone else to mock those who strive, often against long odds, for the recognition and respect they deserve, seems gratuitously hurtful and degrading.
Our message is as simple as it is powerful: people with intellectual disabilities are human beings. Gaining social recognition of that humanity continues to be an elusive goal for them and for those who love and care about them. For centuries, they have borne the stigma of institutionalization, sterilization, social isolation, and bigotry. The names associated with them - such as "retarded" and "retard" - have for too long been used as cruel taunts.
Despite the searing pain that this word (and others) has visited on millions, people with intellectual disabilities have nonetheless persevered to try to gain their dignity. For half a century, mothers, fathers, siblings, and people with intellectual disabilities have worked to open the eyes of the world to the simple truth that each of us has gifts. They do not deserve to be mocked by you.
Our "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign is aimed at changing the perception that the R-word is acceptable and the good news is that the world is beginning to slowly change. Classrooms are becoming more tolerant, communities more accepting and the work place more inclusive as people with intellectual disabilities are slowly being seen for what we've always known them to be - people of value who help us all to understand we are each gifted in unique ways. But this change is too slow and each use of the R-word as a synonym for a stupid action, a schoolyard taunt, or the punch line of a joke, slows our progress immeasurably.
Great heroes like Special Olympics athlete Loretta Claiborne, are visiting school after school to explain that "retard" and "retarded" are words that caused them unbearable pain as children and continue to reflect deep misunderstanding today. Loretta has the courage to face her disability in public, to ask that others treat her with respect, and to ask for more sensitive and caring attitudes in the future. In response, many are joining her, Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and a coalition of organizations in asking children to pledge never to use the word again - not as a joke, not as a description of behavior, not as an epithet. In my own experience, when I ask people - be they first graders or media figures - to join in stopping the casual use of the word "retarded", they universally agree to do so. Most want to go further: they want to understand better how they can serve as agents of acceptance and dignity.
Loretta is a role model and if given the chance to speak her mind on your program, she and many others like her would inspire you and your audience with her wisdom and toughness. This is a teachable moment. May I ask you to join her now by ending your use of this term and by further using your great influence and position to help others do the same?
Best wishes,
Timothy P. Shriver, Ph.D.
Chairman & CEO
'liberal". He makes outrageous statements to make "conservatives" look ridiculous.
Rush, on the other hand, did not make a mistake, and he did not make it in private. He deliberately, multiple times, and in front of millions of listeners, used a word that he very well knew was going to hurt people. And, in spite of Tim giving him two days to repent before he wrote, he did not apologize.
Therefore it makes very good sense for Tim to write a letter to Rush, but no sense at all to write one to Rahm.
Rush Limbaugh is a market brand. The goal is to make money, and as with any other shady market, the last consideration is ethics. Look at the HUGE financial debacle that a country like AMERICA was placed in for the uncaring greed of the rich and powerful.
Rush has one goal, one motive only, TO MAKE MONEY. Shady markets thrive best on the unknowing, the gullible partakers among us. His market is directed at those who are easily manipulated into believing what's fed to them whether good or bad. RUSH DOESN'T CARE...RUSH'S GOAL, HIS ONLY GOAL IS TO MAKE MONEY. It's like Ailes said in the interview the other day, MY ONLY GOAL IS RATINGS. These people don't care about country, people and their vulnerabilities, as long as they achieve their personal, selfish goals.
what you call it (challenged, slow, retarded, special needs etc) It is waste of time and
effort to argue over. Nothing will change how these wonderful people are and that includes
Mrs Palins son. Get over it and spend your effort on the needy person.
His narcissism will not allow for him to EVER admit he is wrong, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, that is when he wheedles "I'm an entertainer" and absolves himself of any accountability for his statements.
Rush used the situation and used everybody involved for his own purposes for ratings and headlines.
Rush or Sarah could care less about the disabled or their listeners.
They only care about getting headlines, creating controversy, dividing us and making money.
The total partisanship and division that Rush and Sarah promote is appalling.
They know NO, better. It's kind of sad but the ignorant MOB has become larger and larger in this country. The future does not look good!
The only thing that will ever get his attention, is his audience abandoning him for his behavior. Unfortunately (as Rush clearly learned from PT Barnum), in a nation of 300 million people, you can get rich by giving even a small percentage of that population, a crude spectacle to watch.
A 12 year old with an internet connection can debunk 99% of his 'Facts", the other 1% is just bile.
Noticed something interesting in its universality: try this > use the words 'woman' 'bitch' 'girl' as substitute for the object of the letter.
Annnd it still reads basically the same - one 'group' denying another their individual rights - in the latter reading tho, that 'other' happens to be the 52% majority of occupants on this planet.
"Can U hear us now?"