'RETARD' NOT FUNNY

I am the parent of a child who is mentally handicapped, and I'm writing to enlighten Curtiss Pernice following his letter "In Re: Retards," Sept. 3. He is, by his own admission, mystified by what his father meant when he said Curtiss was "as funny as a broken back." He is also clearly too dense to understand why saying people are "acting like retards" is offensive, bigoted, unacceptable and repugnant. Let me help you, Mr. Pernice. I'll spell it out for you.

Using the word retard to insult someone is offensive because it implies that being mentally handicapped is a shameful, degrading, in your words "humiliated state" worthy of ridicule and derision. "Retard" also implies that the mentally handicapped as a whole can be quantified and characterized by a stereotype that is, at best, unflattering and, at worst, disgusting.

First of all, "retarded" simply means to learn differently from other people or to learn at a slower rate than average. People who are mentally handicapped need added support with learning just like a lot of people need added support with their vision and therefore where glasses. There's nothing shameful about that.

Secondly, people with mental and physical handicaps are capable of a wide range of talents, abilities, emotions, vocations, appearance, mannerisms, thinking skills, flaws, shortcomings, personal qualities and personalities. I know lots of people with disabilities who go to school, pursue goals, enjoy hobbies, hold jobs, raise families and interact with others with genuine love and acceptance. I wish able-bodied and able-minded people were as loving and accepting.

It's no sin to be retarded, overweight, ugly, poor, autistic, disfigured or physically impaired. Neither is it a sin to be rich, handsome, intelligent or to have any other innate character trait. It is, however, a sin to be fortunate enough to have an able, healthy, attractive body and sound mind and then think those traits make you superior to other people. It is a sin to think you are better than others just because you are different from them.

Shamefully, you explain that you did not actually "call anyone a retard," you "merely said that certain people were acting like retards." Pathetic. You've completely missed the point. Intelligent people are offended because derisive comments about a person's physical or mental abilities are repugnant in the same way that racial slurs are repugnant.

Throughout time people have found ways to ridicule and insult each other. Put-downs come and go in the common vernacular. Sadly, for my wonderful little son, one of the most popular current insults is "retard." Nowadays, among people who are vocabulary-impaired, it is used to mean immature, irresponsible, irritating, thoughtless, inconsiderate, boorish, inappropriate, stupid and a host of other unflattering adjectives.

So Mr. Pernice, I hope your vocabulary can grow. I hope that you continue to have the good fortune of health. And by the way, your dad was right. You are NOT funny. You wrote, "I can act like a horse all day long, but does that actually make me a horse?" Well, no. No it doesn't. But if you keep acting like a horse's ass, you never know. Get a life, would ya?

Sandi Rafal

Athens

WATCH OUT!

I am writing out of empathy for Ken Williams [Pub Notes, Sept. 10] and the hundreds of other Athens residents who have experienced physical trauma on their bicycles around town. On July 5, I was riding down Clayton St. when an SUV pulled out in front of me. I braked to avoid contact and flew over my handlebars, resulting in four broken bones (two in my right hand, one in my left, and one in my elbow). The driver pulled over, but neither got out of her car nor called for medical assistance. The police arrived after a passer-by called 911, and they simply told the driver that she was free to go since I hadn't "made contact with the vehicle."

When I arrived at the Athens Regional ER (where I was well taken care of, by the way), the triage nurse took one look at me and said, "Bicycle?" I nodded, and she elaborated, "We see those ALL THE TIME around here. Drivers in Athens are brutal." This woman consistently sees the aftermath of careless drivers, and her assessment is disturbingly correct. Athens has a real problem respecting its residents who choose to travel on two wheels (or two feet, for that matter).

As a musician, this experience has been a nightmare. I have months of physical therapy ahead before I can play the violin, piano, bass or guitar again. I am "hunt and pecking" this entire letter with two fingers.

Please, drivers, PAY ATTENTION out there. And for those of you brave enough to bike in Athens, I highly recommend a helmet. I was a mere two inches lucky enough to avoid brain damage.

Katie McQuitty

Winterville

RULES OF THE ROAD

Dear Lovers of two wheels between your legs, tell me if I am preaching to the choir, but biking to work today on the bike lane on College Station Road, I had another cyclist zip pass me on my right. I was just getting my right foot back into my toe clips (as I was pedaling) having stopped for a red light.

Dear cyclist if it was you who passed me, please pass only on the LEFT and ANNOUNCE your presence by saying "on your left," "good morning," or ringing a bell. Over the last month I have had several other cyclists pass me without announcing their presence and this is not safe cycling.

Sorry if I am preaching to the choir; if so, take this gospel and spread it to the nonbelievers. Amen

Michael Brugger

Athens

MALLONEE IN ILLINOIS

Hey, I really appreciate your article on Bill Mallonee [Sept. 10]. I've been following him for many years and have most of his music. Please pass along my appreciation to the person who did the interview with him. In my book, and I'm nearly 50, Dylan has nothing on Bill in songwriting. And I'm a Dylan fan. This is just across the river from St. Louis. I'm about 15 to 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis. I've seen Bill and various incarnations of the Vigilantes five or six times in different cities in Missouri. Yes, I'm a fan who truly believes that this gentleman has never been recognized for his brilliance and creativity. But that is today's music industry. He doesn't get the backing because he doesn't have the volume of sales to get such backing, and he doesn't get the volume of sales because he's never truly had the backing of a record label to get such sales. That sounds like Heller's Catch-22 to me.

Dave Willis

Fairview Heights, Illinois