I want to take back ‘Retard’. Because I want it to apply to things that are infuriatingly stupid, instead of it being used as a derogatory term towards special needs people.
I want to take back ‘Retard’. Because I want it to apply to things that are infuriatingly stupid, instead of it being used as a derogatory term towards special needs people.
I would like to reclaim the word pariah, erase it’s existence and swap it with pariyah (pronounced purr-E-yeah), the plural form of pari (purr-E), meaning angels.
Pariah comes from the word Paraiyar (drummers). Paraiyar are a lower caste group from Tamil Nadu, a southern state in India, whose job revolved around drumming and witchcraft.
As if weaponization of this word from a caste to a slur wasn’t enough, the colonialist repurposed it, and made it international.
I can’t even imagine being a Paraiyar folks, and having to hear this word everyday.
If it helps, remove the word pariah from your vocabulary.
TIL thanks.