Civic-mindedness is a good quality to nurture in people; caring about the safety and happiness of your fellow man is something that we all like to see.  But for a group of young adults not even in high school yet, taking a proactive stand in this manner is truly special.
The Brookfield Middle School Student Council is using the first week of February to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics and for mentally handicapped persons in general.  The week-long event will feature a “penny war”, and will culminate in a “Ban the R-Word [i.e., retarded] Day.” The penny war is done in the students’ T.A. class, and counts coins positively in the total, while paper money counts against the total. Students can place money in other classes’ jars to hinder their cause while helping the overall fundraising cause.
February 5 will be a Black-Out Day, and will be an opportunity for students to wear their “Ban the R-Word” buttons that will be on sale all week long.  The “R-Word” is a term used as a derogative in insulting fellow students. The term, though, is hurtful to those with actual mental disorders and disabilities.
“I don’t like that word,” said BMS Stu-Co President Brock Wright.  “People don’t realize that they are offending others when they say that.”  Wright has been a long time activist for Special Olympics, and has been a past Linn County Leader of the Week for his charitable acts.

- See today's LCL for the full story