'Gay' vs. 'Retarded' and suspensions

An ESPNU announcer uses 'gay' on-air and is suspended a game.
Venerable Tom Jackson calls Irvin 'retarded' on-air and simply apologizes.

2 questions, and that's without bringing Steve Lyons into it:

-Is 'gay' that much worse than 'retarded'
-Should the mentally-challenged community be outraged

Just curious. Seems like a capricious decision.

 

Gay vs. Retarded. Now that's a pay per view I'd buy.

It would be a battle between retard strength and prancing agility.

 

Sometimes I split the difference and go with "gaytarded"

 

I'm going to hell for simply reading this thread.

 

Actually, the thread poses a very legit question. As some of you know, one of my kids has Down Syndrome, so perhaps I'm biased. Nonetheless, I find the use of retarded (when it's used as a pejorative) offensive. However, as someone who used both words in a pejorative sense for many years before I came to know better, I think a little bit of a side discussion on sensitivity is a more equitable solution than firing someone over it.

 

Cran, I agree, I think teaching someone how to thing before they talk would do more than cutting them lose.

 

The truth is a strong defense.

 

Thank you Michael Scott, I am sure Oscar appreciates your sympathy

 

Did somebody say Prancing Billy?

 

There seems to be a real air of desperation to people who go out of their way to defend using the word "gay" or "faggot," as if they're angry they can't get away with using other slurs anymore, so they're going to bitterly cling to gay-bashing for what all it's worth.