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Wonderful post, Ariel
When my mother prayed, she always prayed for the sick and afflicted, the poor and the needy. "Afflicted" is one of those words that have passed into the unmentionables. I have a grandson who is "developmentally challenged". If my mom were alive, she would tell people that he was mentally retarded but that is a no no now, even though it is the truth. Anyone can tell by looking at him what he is, but they pretend and never speak of it as if that would make it go away.
posted by
TAPS.
on December 22, 2006 at 3:17 PM
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I've been corrected by people over calling my aunts physically disabled &
mentally disabled (congenital hip defect & learning & speech difficulties).
They are their words, their phrases & if I get another P.C. knuckle wrap I'm gonna start P.C.'ing right back, for example, I will correct people when they profer 'Good Morning' as a greeting, I may not necessarily agree that that time of day is morning, or what's good about that specific interval. I might just prefer, '8 a.m. greeting/hello'.
Now wheelchairs are living aids? We need a daily updated online glossary of what we're supposed to be saying, or at least so as we can understand what's being said to us.
As for passing on, it's too close to passing out for my liking. I'd just prefer the word 'die' too.
posted by
CringeintheUSA
on December 16, 2006 at 4:14 PM
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I wrote a new story under my fiction blog that might appeal to you.
In the vein of the American tall tale -- includes words like crippled... :)
posted by
Pat_B
on December 16, 2006 at 4:01 PM
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I'm with you, Ariel. Euphemisms suck. And they don't really soften, either.
posted by
Pat_B
on December 16, 2006 at 4:00 PM
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Ariel,
I share your anger at the way in which our language has been flattened, prissified and emasculated! And I do wish you and especially your sister strength at this painful time, and that she will still have the joy of seeing 'your' Spain...
posted by
Nautikos
on December 16, 2006 at 1:52 PM
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You're right. I hope to die one day, not pass on, because where would I be passing to? The euphemism I can't stand is senior citizen.
posted by
babe_rocks
on December 16, 2006 at 11:17 AM
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