Why is there such a stigma on the mentally retarded?

[truly committed (imported)]

I think plix means we should love the ones who hurt us...

[A-1 (imported)]

'God' does make junk. I have met a few in my time. People who hurt innocents and love the feeling of doing it. I am not religious in any way, yet I am more spiritual than most I know. I love and I hope. And I can save others, even if it means I must sacrifice myself in the process. Isn't that what Jesus would do?

Nope!

That is what Mohammad Atta and company did... innocence is in the eye of the beholder...

Jesus did what Jesus did. The work was done by him.

Sin is NOT hereditary. Sin is forgiven through the sacrifice of Christ. WE commit sin but we are not in our condition because of sin. We are here because we were put here. Sin had nothing to do with it.

Nobody has to die unless some fool kills them.

IF you consider yourself 'defective' you must consider that maybe you are just 'different'.

Defective is a term to describe something that does not work or something that does not work like the majority does.

If you function and your body functions, even with help, then maybe you are

just different.

Honestly, people, LOSE THE GUILT...

[sag111 (imported)]

Interesting post and everyone of us are flawed in some way but most like to think they are somehow better if only in their own mind.Just look around you and watch the people who think they are Gods blessing to man kind and how so many look down on someone who will make them look better if they can just let enough people know just how and why they are better.Now that is a a flaw I would hate to have but it is real.For some it is sickness others it is sickness of the mind not the body but everyone has their cross to carry.I wish I could describe this so it made more sence but it isent easy when we see people treat others badly for reasions only they know but answer for their actions I know they will someday.Jess my thought to you is love everyone just as you want to be loved and the world will be better for you and everyone you come in contact with.

[truly committed (imported)]

IF you consider yourself 'defective' you must consider that maybe you are just 'different'.

Defective is a term to describe something that does not work or something that does not work like the majority does.

If you function and your body functions, even with help, then maybe you are

just different.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>so.............

Well differnt? i would never call anyone defective, but i can use the word for myself if i choose. Do i have some defective genes ..maybe. Outside influence did not make my problems(though people have added to it!!!), nature did..I really dont want to go into this, i do not function. I can breathe and my body is healthy, but my mind is not.My body is healthy, yet it is still defective-there is something wrong with it, the majority of people do not have my problems or issues or whatever, and never will.I am not like the majority, if i was i would not have these problems.so am i defective? Ofcouse thats an awful thing to say about someone, but i can say that yes some of my genes must be fucked up or this would not have happened. You can be p.c and say differnt, but i would say something went wrong with my genes.

Anyway sorry i cant be more specific, i really dont want to be.

[A-1 (imported)]

IF you consider yourself 'defective' you must consider that maybe you are just 'different'.

Defective is a term to describe something that does not work or something that does not work like the majority does.

If you function and your body functions, even with he

lp, then maybe you are

just different.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>so.............

Well differnt? i would never call anyone defective, but i can use the word for myself if i choose. Do i have some defective genes ..maybe. Outside influence did not make my problems(though people have added to it!!!), nature did..I really dont want to go into this, i do not function. I can breathe and my body is healthy, but my mind is not.My body is healthy, yet it is still defective-there is something wrong with it, the majority of people do not have my problems or issues or whatever, and never will.I am not like the majority, if i was i would not have these problems.so am i defective? Ofcouse thats an awful thing to say about someone, but i can say that yes some of my genes must be fucked up or this would not have happened. You can be p.c and say differnt, but i would say something went wrong with my genes.

Anyway sorry

i cant be more specific, i really dont want to be.

Funny you bring up 'defective' genes...

Did you know that the gene for cystic fibrosis if existant on only one side of the DNA of the individual makes that individual practically immune to typhus?

Did you know that the gene for sickle cell anemia when existant on only one side of the double helix DNA make the individual who carries it practically immune to malaria?

We are just beginning to understand the genome and how it works.

No, genes are NOT defective, just different.

The BRAC-1 and BRAC-2 genes that make one subject to breast cancer are usually carried on the male "X" chromosome side. Similarlly, the gene for male pattern baldness is carried on the "X" chromosome form the female...

There are lots of things about DNA that once we understand will lead to new cancer therapies and may even help prevent cellular aging, what with cancer being primarily a disease of old age...

NO, we are not junk, we are just what we are...and maybe that is evolving...

[sag111 (imported)]

Good post A1 i couldent agree any more with what you say.Well at least in this post

[truly committed (imported)]

well all humans are junk hah! anyway...i dunno you know more about genes than me! sugarcubes.....I dont see what the problem is saying defective..but yes lets agree to disagree.

[wolverine1 (imported)]

hmmm decided to throw in my tuppence-worth...

there's a lot of good points people have made here, but personally I don't believe in God - never have or will - but to go back to the original point there is definitely a stigma on people with any mental issues and altho I hate that, I don't think it's gonna go away anytime soon

In my job nursing i've met people with a whole variety of issues and 'm ashamed to say that i've heard even fellow nursing staff making cruel and unjust comments about mental illness...

but the way to beat it? start with yer children - kids are a 'blank slate' aren't they? When I was little I can't honestly say I had any pre-conceived ideas about people or life in general, my ideas have come from experience and hearing other's views as I was growing up ; so the only way I can see the stigma being eradicated is thru educating people that due to psychiatric issues that doesn't automatically make someone a 'monster' or 'abnormal' and that unlike a lot of conditions I haven't yet heard of ANYONE catching mental afflictions from another...

This isn't meant to sound preachy but to me this stigma is just another form of intolerance for people who are viewed as 'not normal' by too many uneducated others.

[markdf (imported)]

Ah YES!

Happiness, being like DIARRHEA, runs in your genes...

Should we start yet another debate about Eugenics?

HEIL! MEIN FURHER...!

There's a BIG difference between suggesting that certain people should BE KILLED (or prevented from breeding), and simply acknowledging that the way they are is not their fault. Acknowledging the overwhelming contribution of genetics to our personalities is the first step towards actual tolerance, and towards letting people take control over who they are rather than simply condemning them for traits that they may not have any control over.

Ignoring the scientific realities of genetics wont make them go away. So long as we persist with this fantasy that everything about ourselves is a choice, we'll never be able to get on with trying to actually solve our problems.

The classic example is depression. So long as you persist with this delusion that happiness is a choice, there's no real hope for people with that particular disorder. Once you acknowlege that 35% of cases of depression (more in certain groups), it becomes something that is treatable, rather than something where you condemn those who don't get better for being "weak".

Seriously, the next person who compares me to Hitler just because I happen to NOT blame people for the way are, gets a pencil in the eye. When did tolerance start being equated with being a Nazi?!

Plus, by Godwin's Law you automatically wrong.

[truly committed (imported)]

on the topic of depression, the word is used far to often and means little thesedays....

I think when someone is depressed, they are not thinking straight ...but when someone is sad, they have weighed up the positives and negatives of life and maybe have decided they do not want to go on with it. Many people who commit suicde are not "mentally ill" but just sick of life. I am not depressed, but i am sad..deepy sometimes. but i just have a distaste for that word "depressed" because its used so much, it has lots its meaning..its IMPACT.

sorry to go off topic here, as my pschiatrist says "everyone who commits sucide does not have depression". If someone wants to die because they are not thinking straight then they need help, but someone who is thinking rationally and just doesnt enjoy life anymore and want to be with the human beasts anylonger is NOT mentally ill. I just want to make that distinction. It bothers me that people think everyone who kills themselves cannot cope or is ill or something. Sometimes(probably the minority of times though!) its just im sick of life and i have no love for it anymore.

*this post isnt aimed at anyone in particular* just me venting..