So far as the Particular Olympics is worried, Child Rock has rather a lot to be taught.
Throughout an look on Fox Information present Jesse Watters Primetime final week, the rap-rocker-turned-conservative-troll joke that he was going to be a “r—–” for Halloween whereas brandishing a masks extra not too long ago related to COVID-19 prevention (Rock’s historical past of disdain in direction of vaccine mandates is well-documented). His callous use of the slur caught the eye of Lorretta Clairborne, vice chair of the Particular Olympics group, who’s doing her finest to make the unlucky state of affairs right into a teachable second.
In an open letter posted to the Particular Olympics web site, Clairborne urged the “Bawitdaba” singer to rethink throwing round phrases that “have an extended, painful historical past of getting used to belittle and dehumanize.
“I’m writing to you personally with an pressing request: please acknowledge the damage induced and use this second to face with us in rejecting that phrase and the unfairness it represents,” the letter reads. “Individuals with mental disabilities, one of many largest teams of individuals with disabilities on this planet, have suffered generations of discrimination and humiliation. Within the twenty first century, we’re nonetheless persevering with to struggle for the best type of justice: the popularity of our full humanity, a recognition you undermine if you use the phrase retard.”
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Clairborne goes on to ask Child Rock to have a dialog together with her, in hopes of sharing “extra in regards to the motion for inclusion and respect that has modified so many lives, together with my very own. Collectively, we are able to use this second to construct a world the place each particular person is valued and revered.” See the complete letter under.
Whereas the conservative singer has but to reply to the Particular Olympics’ open letter, he’s been directing lots of vitality recently in direction of ticket brokers, even trying to achieve throughout the aisle by eliciting the assistance of Pearl Jam.
It’s a campaign he publicly took on final yr throughout a gathering with Trump’s Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi the place he vowed to “open a can of whoop ass on the bots, scalpers, venues, ticketing corporations, managers and artists alike who rip off and deceive the general public with the horse shit that has gone on for many years and solely gotten worse.” Earlier this yr, he stood by Donald Trump because the American president signed an govt order aimed toward reforming the live performance ticket business and defending followers from what he known as “exploitative ticket scalping.”
An Open Letter to Child Rock: Phrases Matter
Pricey Child Rock,
I watched with deep concern your current look on Fox Information with Jesse Watters, the place you talked about you had been going to be a “retard” for Halloween. The R-Phrase deeply demeans and harms individuals with mental disabilities. I’m writing to you personally with an pressing request: please acknowledge the damage induced and use this second to face with us in rejecting that phrase and the unfairness it represents.
You may have a strong voice and a large platform, and the world is watching. As an artist and cultural determine who influences tens of millions, you possibly can form conversations and attitudes throughout this nation. Individuals with mental disabilities, one of many largest teams of individuals with disabilities on this planet, have suffered generations of discrimination and humiliation. Within the twenty first century, we’re nonetheless persevering with to struggle for the best type of justice: the popularity of our full humanity, a recognition you undermine if you use the phrase retard.
Language performs a vital position in that struggle. Phrases like “retarded” and “retard” have an extended, painful historical past of getting used to belittle and dehumanize. When anybody, particularly somebody within the public eye makes use of them, it reopens wounds that so many people have labored so exhausting to heal.
By way of our “Unfold the Phrase” marketing campaign, Particular Olympics and Finest Buddies have joined a whole bunch of hundreds of advocates world wide to finish the informal use of the R-word and exchange it with one thing much more highly effective respect. We’ve made nice progress, however each public use of that phrase units us again and reinforces the stigma we’re attempting to beat.
I do know this ache personally. Rising up, I heard that phrase used in opposition to me time and again. It damage deeply then, and it nonetheless hurts right now. However I’ve additionally discovered that each second of damage can change into a second to show, to develop, and to maneuver ahead collectively. I imagine this may be a kind of moments.
You may have the possibility to show this incident into an announcement of energy, to acknowledge the hurt, to face with individuals with mental disabilities, and to assist lead the dialog towards better understanding and respect.
I’d be honored to talk with you and share extra in regards to the motion for inclusion and respect that has modified so many lives, together with my very own. Collectively, we are able to use this second to construct a world the place each particular person is valued and revered.
With hope and sincerity,
Loretta Claiborne
Chief Inspiration Officer, Particular Olympics
