While I haven't seen Tropic Thunder, I'm not offended by the use of the word "retard" because I don't think of my daughter that way and I don't think a lot of other people she comes into contact with do either. As more and more people become educated about autism and other "developmental disablities" (which is the term that best describes the situation) words like "retard" become less and less related to my daughter or other kids with special needs.

That being said, my son got really mad at a friend that called another kid "retarded". He said, "Hey, my sister has special needs!" His friend didn't see the connection between "retarded" and my daughter, so maybe it just points to the fact that kids use "retarded" when they really mean "stupid".

In any case, I think it's a waste of time to focus so much energy on a word here and there. We'd be better off, spending more time educating people of all ages about developmental disabilities because it makes them more acceptable and common, and less conditions to be feared and stigmatized.

Dear Sen. McCain,

Please stop. I'm begging you and your campaign to stop. Please stop fanning the fires of hatred and fear at your rallies. You know that the association between Ayer's and Obama is not what your campaign makes it out to be. Some of the people at your rallies are still convinced that Obama is somehow a secret Muslim terrorist no matter what the facts are and your choice of words only validates their wrongheaded, biggoted ideas. You have to admit that even you must be scared of the monster you've unleashed and are now trying to wrangle back into its cage. I think you now realize that there are elements of your party that are willing to kill a black man rather than see him become president. I'm not saying all or even some Republicans feel this way, but all it takes is one crazy person to do Sen. Obama or his family harm.

I realize that we're coming to the end of a close election which you are now beginning to lose. Your campaign, whether directed by you or not is throwing the kitchen sink at Obama and it's gone beyond swiftboating. Your campaign's tactics could indirectly cause real physical harm to Sen. Obama and his family. Is that what you really want? Is that what you'd be willing to risk in order to win? In spite of what your campaign has devolved into, I know that the real you is in there, the real maverick that wants to buck the Rovian politics and do right by other people. So I'm speaking to the maverick when I say please, please make your campaign stop playing to the fringe elements of your party with the distortions and the half-truths it's been pushing in order to scare voters into turning your way.

I used to admire you and when you won the nomination of your party I thought, okay if McCain becomes president I could be okay with that. But in the past several months you've turned into a complete stranger. You've turned your back on average Americans in order to shore up the base by cozying up to neoconservatives and the rich. You've flipflopped on so many issues I have no clue as to what you would really do once you got into office.

You claim Obama's an unknown, but his message has been consistant throughout the campaign. You are, in fact, the real unknown. Are you a political opportunist or a maverick? If you became president who would you really stand for and why? I'm begging the real maverick to show himself. Adopt policies that you are proud of and show what you'd really do as president even if it doesn't appeal to the base. Do what you know is right by Obama and stop the smears. Tell the fringe elements of your party that they're beliefs couldn't be more wrong and make sure the Secret Service agents get their names and addresses. Sen. McCain, now is the hour to show your bravery and commitment to "country first" and do what you know in your heart is right.