"Lighten up, it's Vegas!"

There isn't much I get upset by (socially), and I hardly bat an eyelash when it comes to people being vulgar. 

Last Night we walked the Strip of Las Vegas, lights bright, the smell of smoke, and feelings of lost wages. Every corner you walk past there is a person handing out cards with naked woman exposed on the front, giving them to every male that passes by. Although I don't care for that, it's expected and understood as a local norm. 

Besides the various card pushers there were the occasional man offering free entrance to a strip club promising cheap drinks, free limo rides, or exotic women. This isn't something that even struck me... until I got to one gentleman who said "Strippers, hot Brazilians, and autistic bi****s!" And some (R words were thrown). I immediately turned and said "I work with children who have autism and that is extremely offensive!" His response "lighten up, it's vegas!" 

I was fuming. 

You would never say those "N word, B words"... don't use mental disabilities as your ploy for hustling people into a club. True or not you don't label people in that manor. The combination of those words sent me spiraling. I realize things aren't always politically correct around here, but that should not fly. I would have had the same reaction if they said "transvestite" or "midget".... (apologies for the derogatory language, but this context is not meant to offend).

People irk me on many levels, and I'm all about free speech, but the use of misplaces labels to make your establishment sound like a sideshow act is offensive to those who have autism, and us who love them. If I wasn't so tired at the time I would have ripped him a new one. It's one thing to not know better... but don't play it off like it's no big deal and shouldn't be taken so seriously. It's serious to the millions of families who love someone on the spectrum, we don't see it as a good way to get attention of people walking the street. 

I doubt I changed his stance on using the words, and maybe my anger was misplaced on an ignorant low life, but I'd rather be seen as stupid for saying how I feel, rather than look like I'm okay with those words by keeping my mouth shut.