Misunderstood

The first time I heard the R word, it was when someone was telling me to never, ever say it.
So I never, ever said it.
At the time,
I didn’t know why.
I didn’t know what it meant when I first heard it.
All I knew was it was a terrible word
Used to put down others
Because of something that wasn’t even true
Just something that was misunderstood.

As a college student
I hear it from time to time
Uttered or shouted
Sometimes not out of hatred
but sometimes it was.
And when I hear someone defend themselves
On why they should be able to say it
On why as long as it's not directed at someone “actually retarded”, then it's okay.
All I hear
is them not trying to understand.
To continue to fight for something they don’t understand.
To continue to drive a wedge between themselves and what is right.

I was taught to understand
But only because I was willing to learn
To see how words can hurt.
Others are lucky
That there aren’t words designed
Designated
Intentioned.
To hurt them.
And it’s not their fault.

This word was created out of fear of the misunderstood.
But now, we have the capability
The capacity
To understand.
We just have to all take that step
Together.

Together, we are stronger.