You People ROCK!

Comments make my day. The kind comments, the insightful ones, the uplifting, the jackass jerk remarks, the plain ol' nasty comments...all of them, they all make me happy. It means something you read struck a chord. But I'm no idiot. OF COURSE the good comments far outweigh the others in terms of my happiness. And that's how I felt with my last post, the comments made me feel happy. Such insight and courage in sharing your experiences. Your comments made me so appreciative of and committed to the R-word campaign. It feels good knowing how many of us are dedicated to something so worthy. You people are smart, kind, honest, and open to bettering this world. In my book, you ROCK!

Because some of you may not go back and read the comments, I have listed some that really touched me, really made me think long after I read the comment.

~I decided then and there not to say it ever again. I even prayed for help to think about what I was saying before I said it.
~[do] a real self-inventory
~I think because of it [political correctness], our society has become way too touchy, but when it comes to the people who have it much harder than us because of their limitations, there is no such thing as too touchy.
~Unfortunately, unless "it hits home" sometimes we just "don't get it."
~For me, it is not about being politically correct...it is about being correct...getting it right.
~I don't look down at people who say it. I just feel like crap when they do.
~The Bible says out of the mouth the heart speaks. The R word doesn't speak what I want my heart to say.
~a little sensitivity to how our words affect others would be nice.
~that was one of the defining moments of my entire life. I packed up my lunch, got up from the table of cool kids I was close to my whole life (small town living you know) moved tables and never went back.
~until then I probably did not think too much about people saying those things and had, more than once, been as guilty as the next person to laugh or snicker, like a lot of kids do...but, that for me was a "game changer."
~I plan to have my boys visit the [r-word] website.
~Sadly, those young "cool kids" missed out on the blessing of interacting with special needs kids. By seeing these kids as just an "R" word, they missed out on a whole dictionary worth of words that these special individuals could have taught them.

And this one: It's about defending the defenseless. How true is that one sentence?!? It speaks volumes, and sums up the entire issue. That statement explains why this campaign sucked me right in. The defenseless. I kept wondering why campaigns to end the vile, cruel words thrown at every group on the planet have not touched me like the r-word campaign. I am certain it has to do with Victoria, as well as other children I don't know, but love dearly (those of my baby lost mama blogging friends and those of my blogging friends who have beautiful, living children facing struggles). Because of these children, I am obviously emotionally attached to the issue.

But my being pulled to this campaign also has to do with the fact that every ethnic, racial, gender, sexual-orientation, religious and political group has slurs thrown at them (even whites...I'm very bothered that my son has been taunted with words like "whitey" and "preppy cracker"). I don't care what your color, religion, gender, or sexual preference is...name calling is wrong. I think it's disgusting, and I teach my children those words are despicable. The difference is that the above-mentioned groups are not defenseless. They have advocates fighting for them, and calling for media cameras anytime offensive words are used. And, even if they were alone, they could stand up for themselves and fight for what is right and good. There is a tremendous difference between being offended and being defenseless.

I have always been drawn to the defenseless. It was taught in my home. I can honestly say that my brothers and I did not call each other names. It was absolutely unacceptable. We were taught that family is the greatest blessing you have, so why would you even consider harming them with words, or in any other way. And, we were taught to cheer for the underdog, to look out for those we came in contact with who couldn't look out for themselves. I value those lessons as the second greatest my parents taught me. The greatest being love for and faith in our Heavenly Father, and Savior.

I'm sincerely grateful for this reminder to defend the defenseless. Become an advocate for individuals who need us most. They definitely have the most to give in return.

Princie will pick a winner's name from her Cowgirl hat at 6:30 p.m. EST...so, if you haven't left a comment on the "No More Useless Words" post, do it before 6:00 p.m.!