Hey, mate; in anger people often use terms which they should not and although I do understand your offence, give a break if you can. I have worked with autistic, Down's and disabled children so I am perhaps somewhat de-sensitised to the terms.

Not quite the same thing Stateside, so don't get too wound up!

I been a "Ni**er" for years as are most of my freinds and I'm white as a ghost; you don't have to be black to be a "Ni**er" but someone who calls one us that in a mean way is cruisin' for a bruisin'!

All those things; they are only words and words have only the power that you give them!

Doesn't mean that we shouldn't all be more sensitive though!

I also worked extensively with disordered people and I am especially fond of the memory of "Jack"; a complete paranoid schizophrenic who was only minimally responsive to meds. Possessed of an IQ around 180 or so (For real!), he worked for me for three years as a labourer and was well paid just like anyone else and was always well fed while working.

He would be OK on day and on The Planet Morg the next but I once took him to an art opening in a college town, tux and all.

He was on Cloud Nine but did engage in the rather disconcerting behaviour (For some!) of walking up to people he hadn't met and introducing himself; "Hi! I'm Jack. I'm crazy!" and then proceed to discuss art in terms that I didn't even know about!

I also tried to make sure that "Jack" always got his meds; I had a release from him for his doctors and mental health facility.

One day "Jack" didn't show for work; he had listened to the voices and had taken ALL of his meds at once and gone someplace else.

Ah, well, we do what we can, I suppose but I think of him often.

I had to stop working with those folks though as I got burnout and just couldn't any more.

Maybe someday.

__________________
USA Corporations

USA Corporate Bank Accounts