As we've covered issues here you have seen stories about the Portland Press Herald's lack of journalistic ethics regarding language. (See references at the bottom of this story.)
Of course, others use this kind of language too, — isn't a newspaper writer supposed to be someone to emulate? Especially if that writer shares your viewpoint?
If the language was published, we can reasonably assume the Portland Press Herald editors and editorial board stand behind it, right?

And, language about people with disabilities has been placed into the paper, over and over again, as if we don't matter. At one point, an Op-Ed from then state Senator Paul Davis referred to Tourette’s, as if it was a bad habit. At another, a story referred to a "wheelchair bound" individual. And now?

It's quotes from others, including the word "retards" as if it meant ... Well, you be the judge. How come the Portland Press Herald editors don't hear us?

Your opportunity to show 'em that we're here is coming up. And perhaps, someone could offer them a copy of a media guide? (see reference below) Come forward, with all due haste, and stand up for the right to respectful language in our state's newspapers!

The following alert is from Speaking Up For Us, composed by Dixie Leavitt.

Urgent…Alert…. SUFU needs your faces and your voices…..Urgent…..Alert
by Dixie Leavitt

Below you will read a notice regarding a meeting of the Portland Press Herald Editorial Board.

Speaking Up for Us is urging as many people as can to attend this meeting and let them know that the use of the "R" word (retardation, retard or any form of that word) is unacceptable.

People should come and let the Editorial Board know how you feel, and why they should stop using that that language in their news papers.

(from the Press Herald)
"Editorial board to hold public session April 2 in Augusta The 90-minute meeting will be held from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 2nd in the Welcome Center at the State House, which is just to the right of the Main Entrance.
Readers of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram may want to mark their calendars for April 2. That's the day the newspaper's editorial board is coming to Augusta for the next in its series of public meetings. The public sessions, held roughly once every three months, give our readers a chance to interact with top executives and with the people who write the editorials and staff columns that appear daily on this page and the Forum page opposite it.
Board members scheduled to attend include Charles C. Cochrane, publisher o the newspaper and president and chief executive officer of Blethen Maine Newspapers; Jeannine Guttman, vice president and editor of the paper; John W. Porter, editorial page editor; and M.D. Harmon and Theo Stein, editorial writers and columnists.
One or more members of the news gathering staff also usually attend. The meeting, which is open to legislators, State House staffers and any member of the public, will begin with a brief discussion of the content of the Editorial and Forum pages, including the requirements for submitting letters and columns for publication.
Then the session will be open for your questions and comments. Topics could include the paper's policies and stands on issues, or current legislation on tax or educational reforms, health care, criminal laws, sex-offender oversight, environmental and land use regulations or any other concerns. The agenda is yours to set, so come and tell us what's on your mind."

The following letter to the editor from SUFU was printed in the Portland Press Herald this morning 3/29/07 in response to the Editorial column from March 16, 2007 a copy of that letter is below.
"The Population of the Nanny State, being composed of irresponsible rednecks, rejects and retards, must not be allowed to have Arms."

The officers of the board of Speaking Up For Us of Maine, a statewide group of adults with developmental disabilities, would like to respond to the use of the above quote published Friday March 16th in the commentary written by M.D. Harmon.
We are amazed that in the 21st century people think it is OK to use this quote with the word ‘retard’. The paper would not use racial words. We are outraged by the lack of knowledge and sensitivity that people show around the use of that word which is now used to replace words like stupid, and has become a ‘cool’ word to use. People use that word out of ignorance. It makes us upset and angry; it is discrimination against people with developmental disabilities. People without disabilities have some mistaken ideas about people with disabilities; they need to get some knowledge. If it is not OK to use racial words, why is it OK to use the word retard? People with developmental disabilities would like to be treated with the same respect anyone else in the community.
We feel angry that you think it is OK to use that word in the paper, and make people believe that we are different and not able.

Respectfully submitted; Kile Pelletier, Chair; Laura Antranigian, Co-chair; Jane Anderson, Secretary; and Maryann Preble, Treasurer; Speaking Up For Us

Find link to original letter below!

Second Amendment no dead letter, says appeals court
M.D. Harmon Friday, March 16, 2007
"The Population of the Nanny State, being composed of irresponsible rednecks, rejects and retards, must not be allowed to have Arms." - The Second Amendment as seen through liberal eyes, according to Human Events columnist Mack Johnson.
That's how many on the left would indeed phrase the amendment, but" ...
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/viewpoints/harmon/070316harmon.html
M.D. Harmon is an editorial page writer and editor. He can be contacted at 791-6482 or at:
mharmon@pressherald.com

References for this subject, as previously published at AbilityMaine include,

AbilityMaine: "Not Retarded"
http://www.abilitymaine.org/oped/notret.html

AbilityMaine: (The Press Release quoted at the following link was later republished as an Op-Ed in the Press Herald)
Ability Maine:Tourette’s Syndrome? - Really Senator Davis?
http://www.abilitymaine.org/news/tourette.html

AbilityMaine: Poking at the Portland Paper
Language Again, Somebody Else Notices!
http://www.abilitymaine.org/oped/langagan.html

GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING AND WRITING ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Can be found at
http://www.communitygateway.org/faq/writing_guidelines.htm

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