The "R" Word

Today in Business class we read a discussed an article concerning an offensive comment made by White House Chief of Staff and New Trier alum Rahm Emanuel at a closed door meeting attended by White House aides and the heads of liberal special-interest groups. During the meeting the leaders of the liberal special-interest groups explained their plan to run ads against conservative Democrats who don't support health care reform. The notoriously brash Emanuel was quite clear expressing his disfavor of the special-interest groups' plan, deeming it, "f****** retarded". Emanuel's vulgar comment shocked and outraged many Americans. Sarah Palin, mother to a child with Down syndrome, was particularly offended. She quickly called on President Obama to fire Rahm Emanuel for using what she considers the equivalent of a racial slur, ""Just as we’d be appalled if any public figure of Rahm’s stature ever used the 'N-word' or other such inappropriate language, Rahm’s slur on all God’s children with cognitive and developmental disabilities — and the people who love them — is unacceptable". Recognizing his mistake, Emanuel contacted Time Shriver, CEO of the Special Olympics and advocate for the eradication of the "R" word, to apologize. This article had me thinking/questioning a few things. I have no doubt that Sarah Palin, mother to a mentally disabled child, took great offense to Rahm's comment. But could she have recognized the situation as a great opportunity to attack the Obama Administration and therefore over exaggerated her outrage? Is the "R" word actually as bad as a racial slur? Was Rahm Emanuel's apology sufficient or does more need to be done for him to fully redeem himself?

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