Does freedom of speech give anyone a license to say whatever they want regardless of who’s around? If someone swears and children are nearby, should you ask them to stop?
My cousin and I had a conversation regarding this topic recently and she said “You have freedom of speech just as much as he does, so if you’re offended say something.”
Scenario:
There you are enjoying a nice birthday dinner and the guy next to your table who’s visibly drunk and being rude on many different levels calls his friend the "R" word, which we all know is a derogatory term for someone mentally challenged. Would you, 1) Ignore him. He's drunk, in his own world so to speak. He’s impaired and may not even know how he affects those around him. Or, 2) You confront him. You tell him that he offends you because you have a child with special needs.
I think deep down inside no one wants to face a hostile situation especially over words that someone may not even know are offensive. So perhaps education is the best possible way to make people aware. My mission will now be to help others understand that words can hurt. I vow to withhold from using words with derogatory meaning and I invite you to consider the same.
As Taylor’s mom I’m her advocate and one of my greatest fears now as Taylor gets older is that children will make fun of her and call her names.
I think about the child that stared at Taylor's tummy and I had to take the time to explain what the G-tube was for. It occurred to me that I myself did not know of this world before Taylor, why would anyone else?
Thank you Maria Piork for helping edit. Please be sure to follow her at Marialovestowrite.blogspot.com.
