At some point or another, we all throw around words without really pausing to consider what they could mean to others. But now, one North Carolina dad is reminding us all to think before we speak.
Dan Niblock, the proud father of a boy with Down syndrome, is calling out Republican pundit Ann Coulter for using the word "retarded" in some not-so-PC tweets she posted about President Obama. "Been busy, but is Obama STILL talking about that video?," Coulter wrote. "I had no idea how crucial the retarded vote is in this election."
After seeing the tweets, Niblock decided to take action on behalf of his son, Ozzie. In a lovely and eloquent post written for TODAY Moms, the dad shares the story of Ozzie's birth and reprimands Coulter for reinforcing "the notion that 'retard' is a go-to insult" and that his son is just "collateral damage" to people like her, who speak the word carelessly and without a second thought. He writes:
Thanks, Ann. I'll remember that on some random Tuesday in my future when I come home from work and Ozzie is sobbing because some snot-nosed kid called him a retard on the playground.
With this month being Down syndrome awareness month, Niblock is now also demanding an apology from Coulter for her unacceptable behavior and asking the public to boycott the word altogether.
Read more ¿Qué más?: Horrible father caught on tape bullying 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy deserves the public shame (VIDEO)
Personally, I love that Niblock is standing up for his son. Though I know Coulter is pretty much known for being overly abrasive and mean and that she wasn't aiming the insult specifically at special needs kids, the word "retarded" is still offensive–in basically ANY context. There are plenty of other ways she could've made her point and taken a jab at the Obama camp without resorting to cruel, hateful language the way she did.
But though I am not a fan of Coulter, it's not's like she is the only offender. Politicians of BOTH parties, celebrities, and even we, the general public, are guilty as well–which only proves further that Niblock was right to take a stand.
Image via downwithoz.blogspot.com
