Dear MAGA: 20190610 Open Topic

I had to think closely about whether or not to write this opinion because I’m very well aware this is a free speech blog. I am perched here in these QTree branches because of free speech and for a number of other reasons that are very important to me.
We have no rules about not offending people in our posts, and I am not proposing we have such rules. I am most certainly not a card carrying member of the PC Police.
It would be nice, though, if we had a bit more consideration and even some (gasp!) kindness in mind before we choose to use physical characteristics of people as a pejorative.
When Obama is called Obozo the Klown, that’s certainly a direct insult comparing Obama to a clown. Someone could claim that clowns are offended by that characterization, but that’s totally humorous. The clown wasn’t born with a red nose or floppy 18-inch long feet. The clown wasn’t humiliated throughout childhood because of that appearance.
However, when Obama is called Obozo the Jug-eared Klown, do you believe that people born with large, protruding ears think that characterization is a great joke? Particularly if they had been mocked pitilessly by their classmates through years of school?
Do you think referring to “fat, pillow-thighed Hellery” makes a severely overweight husband or wife want to bring their spouse to read the remark because it’s so wonderfully humorous?
Do you think that using mouth-breather as a characterization of a stupid person, or dopey or spacey doesn’t offend the millions of people who actually are mouth breathers for a variety of causes?
The point here is not how you intend the remark (hurtful vs. humorous), but how the people who breathe through their mouths (or who have large ears or are very overweight) are affected by the remark.
Many people who breathe through their mouths are harmed by the remark, whether or not the people who use mouth breather as a pejorative claim no harm is intended.
You may think it’s funny, but others are truly offended. For example:
tanya says: Frustrating for those of us who do have a legitimate medical reason for mouth breathing. I was born with a cleft palate, and although surgical techniques have advanced since I was a child, my repair surgeries left me without the ability to breathe through my nose. Let me put it this way: I cannot be intubated nasally (if I were ever in an emergency), because the nasal passages are far, far too small.
Consequently, I breathe through my mouth; I cannot get sufficient air through my nose. I can get a small amount of air through my nose and do try to do so. However, I mostly breathe through my mouth.
And for those of us who are “guilty” of mouth breathing, those of us who are aware of it and cannot change it DO often try our best to avoid that “slack-jawed” look. You’ll often find my mouth barely open.
Chelsea says: I am a mouth breather. I’ve had respiratory problems since I was an infant; I’ve been picked on because I am a mouth breather, even though my medical problems could not be helped.
To those who make fun of us because we look stupid: I am in the top of my class and next year I will be starting pre-med to become a neurosurgeon.
vebra says: I never even knew about this term until like a year ago, and then I didn’t even think about its meaning until like now. No one ever said anything about it to me, even though I mostly breathe through my mouth. Now I’m like paranoid!
We’ve started to learn. Retard (for retarded) is far less used because of its association with people who have Down syndrome. Spaz (for spastic) is far less used to describe uncoordinated people because of people with cerebral palsy or epilepsy.
I would guess there are a large number of QTreeps, Deplorables and many others who have physical characteristics used to denigrate others. You really can’t appreciate how painful it is for a growing child to be humiliated, mocked and ostracized during all their school years until you get the chance to know one. Consideration and kindness are well deserved.
“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.”
A wise QTree sage once said “Say what you want, comment on what other people said, comment on people’s comments. Keep it civil.” Civil means courteous and polite.
Remember, concerning The Q Tree: “This is a blessed place, and we intend to keep it that way.”
I’ve put my soap box away now and won’t be standing on it for this topic again.