Spread the word to end the word

The r-word shows how hurtful words can become so normative in society that many disregard its true meaning. This ignorance is no excuse and so the multitude of individuals that use 'retard' to call their friends stupid or uncoordinated are simply juvenile. Even if not directed as someone with a disability, the R-word is offensive and ostracises these individuals such that it creates a divide excluding them from the in group of larger society. This horrible word implies that those with a disability are less capable, less intelligent and imposes these negative stereotypes onto them as a part of their identity when used. Everyone including those with a disability deserve to choose the words they identify by; leader, woman, CEO, student and whatever they desire in life, not have some word inherently tied to them because someone thinks its funny. So we must come together and purge this outdated language, which is really wide-scale faceless bullying that contributes to the prevalence of ableism in society. Individuals with a disability are not less than or other. Period