Rahm and Retards

I have no use for Rahm Emanuel, but in this one case I think the man is getting a bum rap. The term “retard” has two meanings. The first is as an insulting term for a mentally retarded person. The second is as a figure of speech that, like “idiot”, “moron”, and “imbecile” used in the same way, denotes a fool or buffoon. It is clear that Mr. Emanuel was using the word in the second sense, and since he was referring to some leftist members of the political class, it is probable that he was using it accurately. It would be obtuse or engaging in silly political correctness to interpret what he said as a slur on mentally handicapped people.

It is useful to remember that “retarded” was itself originally a euphemism for “feeble minded”, and that it later came into usage as an insult. We see the same natural linguistic process going on today with “challenged”. Over sensitivity about n-, r-, f- or other words can very quickly become absurd and indicative of almost totemic thinking.