You know what makes me laugh? The last thirty minutes of “The Naked Gun.” Larry David in “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” And when Israelis say words that were once acceptable in American English but whose time has passed. Like “Afro-Americans.” Every time I hear it, I cringe.
But you know what? WE’RE the nutballs who keep changing our labels and why should the rest of the world have to keep up with them? I’m American-I get where political correctness came from. I appreciate the attempt to make everyone feel at home in such a diverse country. I value the effort to empower the disadvantaged while making others look over at them and not down. But Americans figured out long ago that it’s gotten out of hand.
So apparently “midgets” our now called “little people”? What the hell? Are we going to change it again in five years to something else? If I go back to the US and find that “chickpea” is offensive to women, sorry, I ain’t budging.
Here’s a new headline on Jpost which I got a kick out of.
Yes, I love that rare occasion when a kind, activist Israeli woman tells me that she works in a non-profit to help retarded children. It kills me. And I love that I live in a country where I can call things “retarded” and not worry about offending someone. Long live retarded, Afro-American midgets!
And if you don’t live in Israel and don’t get this post, you are humor-istically challenged. Or whatever Americans call it these days.
ok this is totally hysterical but i am so sure you are gonna get flamed, so put on your RETARDant suit…lol
This is along the line of that post you wrote before about foreign language curse words. I could go all day yelling "kus-em-ick!" at the top of my lungs in the middle of a kindergarten class and not feel a tinge of remorse. Sooo…. doesn't phase me in the least they toss around 'retard'.
What HadassahSabo said. It's funny because you're reading it as adjective, but as verb, it's still acceptable, even in the increasingly politically-correct, changing world of American English.
Having a parade? I'll rain on it. Apparently. Sorry.
Oh, please. As it is written, there is no problem.
I think the average reader can tell the difference between "retarded," meaning "slowed," and "retarded," meaning "mentally deficient." There is no political correctness here; "retard" (the verb, not the noun) is a perfectly legitimate word.
Normally, you are funny, but this time I think you dropped the ball.
Heard second hand. True story. Israeli mom admonishing her kid in a Canadian public place. "Die, Rafi! Nu, die!"
Now those of us in Israel know that means "Enough, Rafi! Nu, enough!" which is totally fine. However, it doesn't sound so good in the English-speaking world.
What this has to do with your post is tangental, I guess; it's just a good story, right?
I get that "retarded" here doesn't mean "mentally challenged." This headline just gave me the idea for this post.
The point remains that Israelis say "retarded" instead of "mentally challenged" which makes me squirm.
Love your comedy – but this is insensitive and therefore not funny – how would you feel is someone who is considered "retarded" found this page – and "afro-american" midgets – you are too funny to resort to racial slurs – the whole post sounded like Archie Bunker – whose "humor" would never be allowed on television anymore – I though we had evolved past this point? although i see that Jews never evolve…just dissolve in sea of shtick…
Anonymous, you have missed the point. You know, simply using the phrase "Afro-America midget" doesn't make you a racist. Did you get the Sarah Silverman "chink" joke from years back? This is why people make fun of America at times-for not seeing the difference between true racism and just the use of words. A comic says "black person" and the white audience turns around to see if it's safe to laugh.
Are Israelis racist when they say "retarded"? No, and the ones who are saying it are usually as good as they come, like the very ones who work with special needs people. It's funny because these are the most well-intentioned people who nevertheless would be considered politically incorrect by Americans. Again, the point is how are they supposed to keep up with the American labels? What if "special needs" suddenly becomes un-PC next year, can you blame Israelis or whoever for saying "come ON, stop changing already." When I tried to defend the origins of political correctness, one of my Israeli co-workers made fun of me, saying people should define themselves by how they view themselves and their accomplishments, not some dumb label that society gives them. I argued with him but at the same time, he makes a point.
Anyway, your Jewish comment makes it sound that if anyone here is looking down on others, it's you. Can't really imagine why you're reading this blog then….
Dude this is hilarious – you know what else makes me laugh? The word penis – I just think penises are super funny, as long as it's only said – someone sticking a penis out into your face is definitely not funny.
I don't think I've commented for over a year but this had me rolling on the floor. And not because I'm your ever-loving mother. Is mother okay to say or is it now a slur? Oh, maybe the bad word is mutha. Whatever.
Benji, I work with, uhm, developmentally challenged children. The professionals there say all the time, "Hoo mefager", which translates, not loosely, to "he is a retard". I cringe when I hear it, but this is the way it's done. When I tentatively said something about it, my colleagues knew what I was talking about, said, yes, there is talk about not using the word, but the replacement phrase really was awkward. "mefager" and "pigur" (retardation) will be used for some time to come, but I think eventually it will change.
(BTW, Kids do call each other "mefager" on the playground.)
And I thought it was a funny post anyway.
Dude, you may have cornered the market on certain search terms with this one.
Baila – mefager actually translates as "slow" or "to lag behind".
It's used as crazy but that's not what it really means.
you think this is bad… I actually saw a black-face dance during our city's Yom HaAztmaut celebrations last year. I think Israelis could use just a BIT of sensitivity training.
I have to admit, though, that I was trying to volunteer with little kids with special needs and I didn't know the words to use over the phone, and felt so icky using "yeladim mefagrim" that I think I actually said "retarded" instead… don't ask me why!
Ah, Benji, you wanted comments and, by golly, here they are!
I've got 2 points:
1. Urban legend, don't know if it's true. PC Person on a trip in Europe, sees a black man in France and, not wanting to use the term "black", called him an "African-American" even though he was clearly French. And couldn't understand why the travel companions though it was completely dumb.
2. Euphimisms. We (Americans) use them all the time. Everyone knows what you mean, but Americans just don't say whatever they are uncomfortable with. Examples – see if you know what I'm talking about:
"I'm going to powder my nose."
"Number 2."
"Did they do, you know, IT?"
"He rode the short bus to school." (literal and figurative)
"The curse." or "Aunt Flo."
Which only leads to other things we are uncomfortable saying having new comfortable names: differently abled, developmentally delayed, challenged, etc.
In short, we are probably Puritans who don't like to hurt other people's feelings. (There is something positive about that, but anything taken to the extreme simply becomes absurd.)
On a similar note of misapplied word usage here in Israel…
People from English speaking countries in Israel are not Anglo-Saxons. At least most are not. Anglos, perhaps. But I know of very few American, Canadian, South African, Australian or even English Jews who descend from the Anglo-Saxons!
i belive that person who knows the language he uses has right for all the curse words. but if the language is poor (like my english) its better to avoid such things…
Kasaym,
mefager means retarded
It's funny that you should pick this subject because just yesterday a new show premiered on Animal Planet called Pit Boss. It's about a midget named Shorty that employs a crew of midgets and they rescue Pit Bulls in LA. This sounds outrageous but it's true. They also refer to themselves as "Little People" – http://press.discovery.com/us/apl/programs/pit-boss/
Great post, as per usual.
My (Israeli) husband has excellent English but I have to correct him every time he talks about minorities as he just doesn't get 'PC'.
And although I have lived here 20 years I'm still not sure of the PC term for 'people of colour' (or whatever the heck is the fashionable PC term)
Most Israelis use Cushi, a word originating in the Bible, but some left-leaning friends consider that offensive. Any ideas?
so the current educational jargon in the US refers to people with "special needs", "developmental disabilities", or "intellectual disabilities"
Also, for those in Israel uncomfortable with the term "mefager," I have definitely heard "tzorchim meyuchadim"
There is a BIG difference when you are saying someone is "retarded" in a technical sense, without the negative connotations, and the constant use of "retard", "mefager" to anyone who is not acting properly, who you are angry with, etc.
My daughter Ricki (age 15, has Down syndrome) is very well aware that "mefager" is a negative term, and will not believe me that it need not necessarily be so…..
I also personally agree that the constant change-over of terms is not practical. The problem is, that people will ALWAYS take these terms and use them as slurs. [I pray that no one here has seen the absolutely discuting ways it can be used,...] The problem is not the words, but the speakers.