Isn't the whole problem with being in a marginalized community that people treat you differently? If people ran around calling you the N word on a daily basis would it be a comfort to you that you aren't actually black?
Even if it were though, it seems obvious being on the receiving of that slur would have significantly less impact on you, as it didn't actually target anything you saw as part of your identity. I don't see how your experience puts you in a position to absolve others for their use of the term.
Personally, I think we should give significantly more weight to folks who are actually in the impacted community (those with intellectual disabilities, their loved ones, etc). The vast majority of whom _do_ object to the use of the word as a derogatory slur.
To be fair at no point have any of the educational experts or administration ever claimed that I am not retarded. It was never retracted I simply left school when I was older. If we trust the experts on this I'm severely handicapped. Who's to say I'm not a retard?
Special education you got is not reserved for those diagnosed with retardation. You did not even said that you was diagnosed with retardation. The other kids who called you retard are not experts in this particular diagnosis.
There is no reason for school or experts to retract that claim, because they never made it. The claim was done by other kids.
> as it didn't actually target anything you saw as part of your identity
The parent comment already covered this. You don't believe you are, based on how you've talked about this experience. At no point do you say you identify with the word, just that it was used against you.
By this logic, wouldn't people the state labeled as felons, who don't believe they are guilty, be unable to speak about discrimination against felons, even though they personally experienced it at both a institutional and societal level?
