“Retard!” That was the cutting word
they would call him
Cut him to the quick
Different enough, without the words
mentally retarded, or so he has been known
A change in language,
not nearly enough
to heal his pain
Cruel words can break our hearts
more than sticks ever could
Words can hurt us
April 19, 2008
Change in the language from “mentally retarded”
to “intellectual disability” in NH law,
Senate Bill 529. Hopefully it will
make a real difference.
(Raymond A. Foss)
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