The President made a slip:
Obama’s Leno slip..
I did this once. I refered to myself as “retarded” on the air. I’m used to making jokes at my own expense, since there are just too many great opportunities and I can’t seem to pass ‘em up.
However… this was hurtful to some people.
I realize this can be a very hurtful term. A friend of mine was not happy at my use of the word, because a dear friend of hers has Down Syndrome and she finds the thought of anyone using the word “retarded” in reference to her friend as hurtful.
Although these are entirely different situations, I understand. I’ve never bought the idea that being “politically correct” was an infringement on my rights. I joke that “PC” actually stands for Polite and Considerate. If somebody says his name is Bob, I’m not going to say, “Oh, REALLY, Bob? Because I don’t think you LOOK like a Bob. I think you look like a BRUCE. So that’s what I’m gonna call you, BRUCE!”
That’s obviously insane and rude.
So, if someone wants to go by a certain designation, I respect that. Why not?
In the same vein, if someone is hurt by a word I use (unless I need that exact word to speak the truth) I’m going to respect where they’re coming from.
I apologized on the air for using the term, in the interest of empathy and respect for fellow humans. This didn’t hurt me at all. I don’t see this as wimpy, melodramatic or unnecessary. We’re all fighting at least one tough battle, we all need validation, we all stand to benefit from kindness and respect. It’s free. It cost me nothing to share the fact that I regretted injuring someone. In fact, it gave me a chance to make it up to them. This feels much better than hurting somebody.
I’m sure the President regrets it. I sure did.
This editorial in no way represents any similarity in mental acuity that I may or may not share with the President. There’s no sharing. No matter how you feel about the President, trust that he IS-at the very least-my mental superior.
…I can’t help thinking about the OTHER St. Patrick, Patrick Roy, who I still admire as a true hero, a man in the very finest sense of the word, and yeah, OK, wicked HOT.