The vertically challenged pipe up
We were called out recently for linking to a cartoon that used the word "retarded," even though the cartoon was set in the 1950's, when that word was in common usage without objection.
This month's new no-no word: midget. Please make a note of it.
| Posted at 8:56 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (11)
I remember Sally Field playing a midget.
Posted by Bark Munster | July 13, 2009 9:17 AM
Did you say "retired" or "retarded?"
Posted by Garage Wine | July 13, 2009 9:21 AM
I thought that there was an actual morphological definition of midget vs. dwarf. A midget (as I understood it) is a very small person of normal proportions, whereas a dwarf is a person with undersized limbs, and torso but a standard sized head. Do midgets actually exist?
I will never cease to be amazed at our propensity to take offense and offend in equal proportions.
As for retarded, please note that the characters in South Park (mainstream dictionary of vocabulary for adolescents and adultolescents) uses the expression R-tard. This will not end in our lifetime...
Posted by Dean | July 13, 2009 9:34 AM
"Little people" sounds more offensive than midget to me.
Posted by dg | July 13, 2009 12:02 PM
I remember Sally Field playing a midget.
Acoustic or electric?
Posted by cc | July 13, 2009 12:16 PM
Sorry to say, but that story just made me think of this song:
Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
To live
They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet
Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
`Round here
Short people are just the same
As you and I
(A fool such as I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It's a wonderful world)
Short people got nobody
Short people got nobody
Short people got nobody
To love
They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
'Round here
Guess I'm just a heightist
Posted by Gil Johnson | July 13, 2009 12:59 PM
I blame the Republicans (so you don't have to.)
Posted by Lalawethika | July 13, 2009 1:11 PM
I am one of the last people to jump on the politically correct bandwagon. However, after consulting the Oxford English Dictionary, I now believe that "midget" is a pretty insulting term.
Midget is a diminutive: MIDGE+ET, where a midge is a small insect resembling a gnat.
I can now see why Billy Barty pushed for the term "Little People."
Since Mr. Barty died in 2000, we can name a Portland street after him. It would be an honor to all Mormon little people of Italian descent.
Posted by Garage Wine | July 13, 2009 1:35 PM
Garage: I know just the street: SW Eighth Avenue. It's less than
a block long.
Posted by RickN | July 13, 2009 2:59 PM
This doesn't bode well for my High School Mascot.
http://dickinsonmidgets.olinesports.com/
And no, I'm not kidding. That is actually my high school's mascot.
Posted by Jay | July 13, 2009 3:16 PM
What no f&@ktarded? Now that would be a controversy worth having....
GW.... basta with the Italian comments or Guido will pay you a visit.... ;-)
Posted by LucsAdvo | July 13, 2009 3:16 PM