EXACTLY!

Yes, but it became an insult because of its application. To say 'You're a retard' was never used as an insult until a whole group of people had been commonly referred to as 'mentally retarded'. The application of the word as an insult or comment on one's mental capacity is directly connected to its having been used to refer to those people.

As far as the word itself goes, when used in its usual context (as noted by eagarza12), there should absolutely be no issue with it.

I'm also of the opinion that 'political correctness' goes to far many times (I mean, why is it an insult to say 'native' up here instead of 'First Nations people'?), don't get me wrong. But 'retard/retarded' is just going to be one of those terms that is going to be PCed up.

I agree with the OP. One day, we won't be able to say the word "mug" for fear of offending ugly people.

Are there any words which are "slurs" in all contexts?

That's all right then. Please carry on.

I guess any racial/ethnic epithets created specifically to demean or insult others would always be offensive.

Then we completely agree.

That's the verb form, to retard. It's almost a separate word, even the stress shifts onto the second syllable in this form.

The noun has almost the exact same definition.

You have notices that this Coulter woman has used the term derogatory? Therefore you are disagreeing with yourself.

If you read the thread you will see I'm not. I said repeatedly I don't agree with how she used it, I am fighting the stupid "r-word" bullshit.

Whoopsydaysy I missed the edit. I thought you were defending her.

No, fuck that crazy bitch.

Maybe twenty years ago. OTOH, there is this other blonde reporter on Fox. She is certainly shagadalic.

I don't think I could swallow my morality enough to fuck a journalist.