A Message from John C. McGinley

Reposting a message from actor and star of the TV show "Scrubs", John C. McGinley, that was sent out today, March 31.

Spread the Word to End the Word

A personal message from John C. McGinley

Hi, I'm John C. McGinley. I'm an ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society, and today I'm teaming up with Special Olympics to bring you a message that's important to me.

So many times in life you are asked to change...

Change your clothes. Change lanes. Change jobs. Change the sheets. Change flights. Change your tune. Change horses midstream. Change your latitudes and your attitudes!

Change, and the ability to adapt, is to the human condition as air is to the lungs. We change, and in the doing, we thrive!

In fact, we just elected a president who promised, above all else, to "change."

What if, on March 31, you elected to change the way you use the words "retard" and "retarded"?

Hardly seems like the largest of sacrifices. Not when you consider the changes in language that you have, so willingly, already elected to integrate into your vernacular. You no longer use the words nigger, or kike, or faggot, or jap, or kraut, or mick, or wop.

Why would you? Why on earth would you? Those are all words that hurt. Those are all racial and ethnic slurs and epithets that perpetuate negative stigmas. They are painful! And that is not okay.

It is wrong to pain people with your language. Especially, when you have already been made aware of your oral transgression's impact.

Make no mistake about it: WORDS DO HURT! And when you pepper your speak with "retard" and "retarded," you are spreading hurt. So stop it. Stop saying "retard" and "retarded." Those words suck! You are better than that and you definitely do not need to be "that guy."

There is no longer any acceptable occasion to lace your dialogue with the words "retard" and "retarded." Without fail, those words are the stuff of hurt. They, straight up, are. So, stop it! Stop using the "R-word."

The 7 million people with intellectual disabilities (around the planet) who are on the receiving end of this hate speak are genetically designed to love unconditionally. These "retards" are NEVER going to return your vitriol. Ever! So what could possibly be the up-side of continuing to use the "R-word" in your daily discourse?

We love you. We do!

And, just in case you missed it and you need an extra hug? We love you! You do not need to love us in any kind of reciprocal fashion. You don't. (It's not that kind of bargain.)

But, how about on March 31, you elect to change? A word? Two stinkin' syllables?

On March 31, join us and "Spread the Word to End the Word." And the word is "retard!" It HURTS! So help us to cut it out.

Thank you! We do love you!

John C. McGinley

• Learn more about Spread the Word to End the Word
• Take the pledge to stop using the R-word
• John C. McGinley on "The Bonnie Hunt Show"

2 words: Free Speach

I may be Japanese and when people call me a "chink" it annoys me but I don't go up to people and say "That's hurtful" and then go get the word banned, I would probably call them "red-necks".

Beside you just can't ban words...

Black people didn't want people calling them "Nigger" but they didn't get it banned.

I hate to say it..

but this is a fruitless cause.

for teaming up with special olympics, and as a mom of a child with down syndrome and two with autism I know how that word hurts and offends, every time I hear it makes my face blush but not because it embarres me but because it makes me angry that people just use it because it means nothing to them but don't realize that the person besides them have children with special needs! and this word as any other you mention above has to STOP! besides all children with special needs don't know about hate, or hurting other peoples feelings they just know how to give unconditionally love so thank you again for spreading the word :) you have a lovely boy!

ps: I see Scrubs every night!...sorry had to say it. :)

Forget the fact that you're trying to eliminate free speech for a moment here.

What I'd like to point out here is this about this STOP IT GUYS THATS MEAN letter I just read. The guy who wrote this plays a character on tv that is literally incapable of appearing on the screen without ridiculing everybody else in view at least once. That's all he does. Degrading nicknames, selfish acts, brutal sarcasm, being condescending to every other person he interacts with, that's what he is. And now, here is the person who plays that role, telling the people of the world to open their arms and give everyone else a hug. That's fantastic.