WASHINGTON – Disabilities advocates are applauding Congress for passing legislation that eliminates the term “mental retardation” from federal laws.
The measure, passed by the House by voice vote Wednesday night, changes the phrase “mentally retarded” to “an individual with an intellectual disability” in existing health, education and labor law.
Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, sponsor of the bill with Republican Sen Mike Enzi, of Wyoming, said it would make language in federal law consistent with that used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the health arm of the United Nations and the White House.
“Rosa’s Law,” named after a Maryland girl with Down Syndrome, passed the Senate last month and now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.
It’s good to see the “intellectually disabled” members of Congress finally do something useful.
# 19 Kierkegaard was insecure said, “I think some of don’t understand the power of labels.”
Excuse me? Being labeled ‘mentally retarded’ is worse than being labeled ‘intellectually disabled’?
Rosa’s Law? To misquote Shakespeare:
“What’s in a name? A Rosa, by any other name would still be a retard.”
Happy to see Congress pass this simple legislation in supporting disabilities advocates. An opportunity for compassion and bipartisan support (well, at least one republican).
Naturally, the prude ‘pukes in here could find nothing good with this act of compassion.
How about “absence of intellect” for congress?
How would they ever know if someone was that way?
I would so much rather be called a retard than intellectually disabled.
One you can laugh off, the other is a clear, and educated insult.
“Oh look, there goes a handicapable post-traumatic stressed individual with an intellectual disability.”
Soon enough we’re going to need to compile a speech when referring to the state of Vietnam vets.
disability: Any impairment (physical or mental) which can make routine tasks more difficult or impossible.
intellect: the power or faculty of the mind by which one knows or understands, as distinguished from that by which one feels and that by which one wills
(does not cover the power over emotion and will)
Can a person with a deficiency of will or emotion be considered ‘intellectually’ disabled? Is a very intelligent doctor (Jack) who can’t stop murdering prostitutes, intellectually disabled?
‘Mentally disabled’ covers all aspects in deficiencies of the brain including intellect and is a much better general term to use than “intellectually disabled” which defines a specific subcategory.
What ahh they – retahhhhded???
Oh, brother.
It is getting to the point where I could be arrested for saying any of the words we hear all of the time to refer to different races or groups.
I think the world has gone to fucking hell.
So what’s the short bus called now? Capacity Challenged?
The term they should be using instead of “An Individual with an Intellectual Disability” is “A Future Member of Congress”.
Beam me up Scotty there is no intelligent life here
We live in a time not even imagined in George Orwell’s classic book 1984
Political correctness to the extreme, electronic monitoring by the agents of society
Words and expressions being removed from our vocabulary
Lies by our politicians – cap and trade , green jobs while they lead the high life
Technologies that while useful bestow great monitoring effects to the powers of the world
Its unimaginable
Transport me out of here
Speaking of Congress… What’s this about Boehner’s boner for a lobbyist?
A puke cheating on his wife is no longer news but a lobbyist too? Good lord. Have they no shame?
http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/3418-rumors-of-boehner-affair-with-woman-lobbyist-amplify
Aaaaaah! This PC action was indeed needed to make everything better. Even the economy will recover with the elimination of the “mental retarded” label. Morans!!!!
#7 FTW
#19 Don’t worry. The congress just acted in your behalf.
#22 And they did it also for you. Now you can proudly say you’re just mentally challenged. I now fully understand why you defend your beloved president and your congress majority.
Sheeple!
#25 They’re just making texting & twitting insults more expensive.
#30 Ask #22. He’s an expert on PC. I think congress looks at him before making any changes.
#3 It’s only natural you don’t understand, what with your mental disability and all.
My last line is for #33. I just wrote #3 instead not referring to #3, but because #33 might be offended for being at the last place of the subject’s posts. So, in order to make him feel better about himself, I put #3 instead #33.
I know, like anything PC, it’s complicated and usually makes no sense.
Not to worry Microsoft fans, you all are still retards. Pedro is their King.
#34 BTW, it’s spelled ‘moron’, moron.
I like how that slipped this in..
“the health arm” = the WHO
Nice to know we are continuing to re-align ourselves with one of the few organizations that is more corrupt than our own government. Someone should dismantle the current U.N. before everyone on the planet loses sovereignty to this sleeping giant.
-s
#37 Moran is in the PC list of accepted words as a substitute for moron, you sheeple!
You have an article about mental retardation _in humans_ and illustrate it with a picture of an ape smoking a cigarette.
Yes, I think it’s time to retire that term.