Readers: What’s your advice on ‘Tropic Thunder’?
August 4th, 2008Updates earlier posts here: ‘Sorry, Mr. Stiller … You’ve crossed the line’
And here: Once upon a time … There was a retard
With the August 13 release date for Ben Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder” still more than a week away, plans for the upcoming DVD are already being shared on the Internet.
Disability rights organizations have confirmed that a meeting with DreamWorks executives has been set for 5 p.m. Pacific time Wednesday to discuss the film’s depiction of people with disabilities.
But the studio ad campaign and distribution machine is already moving forward at full throttle. As movie prints and DVDs are being readied for distribution, will the meeting come too late for any changes to be made?
Readers, please send your advice: What should the disability rights organizations be asking for? What will make you feel better about a movie that advises: “Never go full retard”? All comments will be forwarded.
A starting point:
Here are some of the many suggestions I’ve heard over the past few days:
- Paramount/Dreamworks should pull all references to the words “retard,” “imbecile,” “moron” and “idiot” from the movie, DVD, trailers, promotional material and merchandising;
- Paramount/DreamWorks should pull all scenes and clips that include Ben Stiller’s portrayal of “Simple Jack” from the movie, DVD, trailers, promotional material and merchandising;
- Ben Stiller, DreamWorks and Paramount should apologize;
- Paramount/DreamWorks should commit to employing people with intellectual and other disabilities, with specific hiring goals;
- Paramount/Dreamworks should commit to consulting people with disabilities during the development process about scripts that portray them ;
- Paramount/DreamWorks should fund an advocate on behalf of people with disabilities in the entertainment industry; and
- Paramount/DreamWorks should contribute to disability rights causes a set portion of the film’s profits.
I’ve also heard from people who say that discussion of the film is premature until it can be viewed, that the disability community should not draw attention to the film by discussing its use of the word “retard”, and that boycotts and demonstrations should be considered.
What do YOU think?
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November 1st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
its just a word, not the end of the world, i understand that is not the parent`s favorite word, because they suffer a lot raising their children with this kind of disability,but,there are a lot of things everyone must be angry with, like war in irak for example.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Are you kidding? Your all nuts. Goofy guys are funny especially when they are drinking. I just wish the ones on phenolbarbitol were not allowed to bag groceries. I don’t mind that they break an egg or two or squish the chips bags with canned goods and I don’t even mind that they(males)stare at my breasts the entire time but I do mind when they drool on my shopping bags.
Regarding the starting points, you are right. Paramount and Dreamworks should employ those with special needs. In fact, they should be in the movies. No comedy is truly complete without one. How about this… imagine a reality TV series with the mentally challenged. A house full of Corkys with tons of beer and all the jello they can eat. Now thats a show.
Tropic Thunder was nothing. Ever heard of Slo Mo the Rapping R—-d? Check this out. http://www.iamlost.com/features/slomo/
September 6th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
In response to this Sept. 3rd comment by Chuck -
It’s a comedy movie that is rated R. If you don’t like the adult content (humor) don’t pay $$ to see it. No one is forcing you to watch anything! Pretty simple…
There are bigger fish in the sea to worry about!
************************************************
I heartily disagree. When people with disabilities are treated as “lesser” citizens or as sub-human… this encourages a degrading of their existence. This is similar to a film ENCOURAGING racism or ENCOURAGING rape.
I have a special needs child so I don’t have time to review all of the responses. But it saddens me to think a film may come out that encourages people to look down, and in some cases look down further than they already do, at my child. He is a terrific human being just as he is.
To the producers of this film - I have seen the actors in the film “Tropic Thunder” in other bodies of work. I do not want to see them in this body of work and it will affect how I view them and those who support them and those who have made this film possible if anything is shown to degrade my child. A slow mind, crooked teeth, big ears, unique stride etc. are things that people can’t always control. Elevate your thinking and your work and you will elevate the human race.
Sincerely, Ali in Poplar Grove, IL
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
It’s a comedy movie that is rated R. If you don’t like the adult content (humor) don’t pay $$ to see it. No one is forcing you to watch anything! Pretty simple…
There are bigger fish in the sea to worry about!
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Lets get over this sensetivity that is poisoning our culture. Sometimes its good to make fun of our differences…most movies do it all the time. They make fun of the rich, the poor, black, white, Indians, Jews, gays, etc,etc …. when did it become wrong to poke a little fun at people with disabilities. It was a small part of the movie (funny at that!)….Come on!!!! lets learn to laugh, and stop making a big fuss out of nothing! Then maybe you can get some good done, instead of a pointless crusade.
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 am
I think the resulting blogs are nearly as fun as the film. The filmmaker couldn’t have asked for better publicity than a n entire group of Simple Jacks to raise a fuss at the premier. One thing I’d have to say for the retards is that they’ve got a brilliant sense of timing. They–along with creative comedy and fun storytelling–pushed the film over the top.
Who can ignore a moron flipping out and parroting some slogan s/he can’t come up with or even explain?
Of course, we all hear that some folks are insisting that movie makers employ morons or retards, but the leaders of ARC are all non-retards. Let’s take a look at that.
Please keep it up. It’s a hoot.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
The fight for human decency is a long, difficult and continuous fight. It seems sometimes that it’s not in our genetic makeup, as human beings, to do the decent thing. It seems that it is our innate response to make fun of, diminish, hate, ridicule and belittle those that are different then ourselves. Over the last century one group after another has had to forge, independently, a path in our society to achieve respect and equality. Whether Jewish, a woman or a person of color this path has been hard fought. And yet even when so many battles have been fought and won we continue to seek out someone else to abuse. We seem to have a need, a thirst for it; a need to have someone beneath us to look down on. Or we are just clueless and just don’t get it.
There is something very basic here; something fundamental that we are missing and which makes us who we are and explains why we do the things we do. Some argue that “everyone is offended by something” and I believe that is absolutely true. The key here is that we are only offended by that which we have a personal relationship with, something that has impacted our lives personally. We though don’t care much about the other fellow. This makes us very self centered. Some are offended by racial slurs, some ethnic jokes, some by gender prejudice, some by smoking, some by drinking, some by child abuse, some by animal abuse, some are offended by the lack of concern for the environment; everyone has an issue, a concern, a hot button, something they are closely connected to and care deeply and passionately about. If I make fun of your kid, your wife, your mother you might not think it funny. If I make fun of your weight, your economic status, your job, your home, your intelligence, you might not think it funny and that’s because their yours.
The key word here is empathy; to care for someone else as much as we might care for ourselves. I think that this culture lacks empathy and compassion. There are those who care more about their right to laugh at someone then how that someone might feel.
If only we were all equally capable and able to put ourselves into the body and mind of another human being and see the world through their eyes we would never hesitate to do the decent and kind thing. Unfortunately it is only those of us that have someone close to us who suffers from a disability that care about this issue. It is our love for them that builds the bridge of empathy and compassion and makes it possible for us to feel in every cell of our bodies the pain that this can cause.
It should not be hard for a Jew to understand the racial hatred perpetrated on the blacks, or a black man to understand the 2nd class citizenship placed on women; but it is. For each of these groups of human beings sees their issue in an isolated perspective and for some reason their issue doesn’t readily translate to the other; so all of these people may be at the movie and laughing heartily at the retard. Some of these people are good people in every other respect and have no idea of the pain they are causing.
His holiness the Dalai Lama says that Compassion for all things is the key to resolving all the issues that face humanity. Then there was a man once who said ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Yes, everyone is offended by something and we need to care if we want to be civilized and decent fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, neighbors and human beings.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:11 am
When is a movie just a movie? When is a word, just a word. We all know the pen is mightier than the sword. I feel, when the writer choose his subject matter, he choose to make it more than just a movie. It also shows what lack of talent these people truly possess when they need to pick on those who are the weakest.
I have a Special Needs child, he has autism and have felt the heartache and left many playgrounds with clenched jaws holding back tears so my children wouldn’t see my pain, as my son is being called a ‘retard’ or ‘hey is he stupid or something’. It’s not a big deal for those who don’t have special needs children, but for those of us that do, each day is a challenge. Special needs children have to work harder than all ‘typical’ or ‘normal’ children and have hours of therapies. They are ostracized and so are their siblings and family. You with normal children, will never have to sit your six year old daughter down and explain that your older brother is autistic and thats why he tunes you out and ignores you all day. And that’s why the other kids make fun of him.
So you with a ‘NORMAL’ family can laugh and/or justify these simply words by saying it’s just a movie, but it’s more than that - it’s a slippery slope that says on a grand big budget scale “HEY IT’S OK TO MAKE FUN OF THESE PEOPLE”. As adults we can see the satire of the movie, but teenagers and younger children will not, they will simply see “hey adults call other retard, I guess I can too. And instead of teaching compassion and understanding of others who are different that ourselves, we will go backwards in spreading and accepting ignorance and indifference.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
i just have to say wow you NORMAL people seem more challenged than any really challenged person. if it dosen’t affect you or your perfect happy go lucky life then it just dosen’t even matter. my 6 yr. old daughter has down syndrome. and you don’t see what she has to go through every single day of her life. yeah it might be funny to some people to see it in a movie once and never think about it again but when you see someone you love go through it every single day it’s not so funny. this is just is mean and heartless. even if it is just making fun of actors, you don’t see many movies about someone with a disibality who are welcomed into society and treated NORMAL, only stupid movies that think that’s it is ok to portray disabled people as retards! my ds daughter is disabled but she is no retard! funny movies are great, but not when they are about something that is taken so lightly to some. but yet again, all the NORMAL people who say oh just get over it and suck it up, if you have to stoop that low just to get a laugh then we couldn’t expect you to understand, your NORMAL little brain probably couldn’t begin to process what we go through every single day and night. so what’s the point?
August 18th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot what I had originally wanted to point out:
I find it interesting that The ARC no longer wishes to be called by its fomer name, The Association of Retarded Citizens. So instead of doing away with it entirely, they go by the acronym. Reminds me of what Kentucky Fried Chicken did when the word “Fried” was demonized.
But then, I guess that would be comparing apples and oranges…
August 18th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I got to this site by way of following links…I am a Master’s level Social Worker and a registered Democrat. I have over 15 years experience with the developmentally challenged population, mostly as a behavioral clinician in supported living programs (as well as families who bravely support their loved ones at home)…I thought this movie was HILARIOUS!! Please, please, please stop comparing the use of the word “nigger” to “retard”. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Offensive is offensive. If you felt offended, then that’s how you felt, I won’t argue with that. As a flaming homosexual, I have learned that the opportunity to be offended will never go away. HOWEVER, my choice in accepting the offensive words is what truly makes it hurtful. People can call me faggot all day long. If I choose to participate in the abuse by perceiving myself as a victim, then I continue to be abused. If I see the taunts as they really are — uninformed rants from ego-compromised, yet-to-be-fully-actualized, narrow minds — then I am no longer a victim, but simply an observer of psycho-social ills.
The problem with this cognitive-behavioral self-imposed intervention is that it is rather complicated and difficult to teach to those who are intellectually challenged. HOWEVER, it is possible to teach people to own their differences to the point where the “offensive words” no longer have power. Which is the very reason why you see people of a minority status using what would otherwise be considered epithets had they been used by anyone else.
So instead of exacerbating an already difficult life-experience by insisting on politically correct labels, teach your loved ones to embrace their limits with as much understanding as possible. In this way, they won’t misunderstand the innocent behavior of others as malicious.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:55 am
You people are pathetic retards.
Yeah, that’s right, I said it. RETARD.
Protesting will not get you anywhere, the movie will still be successful as it is today. When will you retards(yeah, I said it again) learn that Simple Jack was not making fun of ACTUAL people with disabilities, it’s making fun of actors who would play such a role to win an oscar.
You people are nothing but a bunch of attention whores. You protest over ONE small piece in the movie, and you call the WHOLE film bad.
We should boycott the boycotters, because there is NO SUCH FRIGGIN’ THING AS THE R-WORD!!! The protesters make that crap up for attention.
Dreamworks, do not buy into their bullcrap. They don’t know what Simple Jack is REALLY making fun of. Keep all your jokes in the film. No apology is needed. You must tell them the REAL purpose of the joke, so that these RETARDS can under-freakin-stand it!
August 17th, 2008 at 10:34 am
I have seen the movie 3 times already and I can’t stop laughing. I think it’s offensive that you start off mentioning the discussion about Robert Downey Jr. in blackface. The blackface term stems from the days of the minstrel shows, where white men donned black paint on their face and red lips to imitate the blacks in america. Robert Downey Jr, is actually in brown face per se, the same things that those of lighter color do when they stay out on the beach trying to get darker. In this movie we are watching a conversation that is advice to Ben Stiller’s character from Robert Downey Jr’s character. Funny. Didn’t anyone see Garden State where Natalie Portman’s character calls out Zach Braff’s character in a movie where she asks him if he’s really retarded.
Dialogue:
Sam: Hey, I recognize you.
Andrew Largeman: Oh, did you go to Columbia High?
Sam: No, not from high school, from TV. Didn’t you play the retarded quarterback?
Andrew Largeman: Yeah.
Sam: Are you really retarded?
Andrew Largeman: No.
Sam: Ooh, great job man! I really thought you were retarded. I mean, you’re better than that Corky kid and he’s actually retarded. If there was a retarded Oscar you would win, like hands down, kick his ass!
I think were the same number of retards in the movie. Though he was also referred to as Simple Jack…
August 16th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I go full homo every chance I get. Grrr..
August 16th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Being a homosexual radio producer, I do not think that calling someone names is very nice. No no no no. Grrr…
August 16th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
August 15, 2008
An Open Letter To DreamWorks
Dear Madam or Sir:
I am writing to say how offended I am by the use of the word “retard” in your film “Tropic Thunder”. I had had every intention of seeing this movie as none of the advertisements for it have mentioned the storyline where this word is bandied about in casual conversation. Now that I’ve learned of the storyline from the many quotations I have read, I have no intention of throwing away my money to be offended.
You took pains to make sure the role Robert Downey, Jr. was playing would not be offensive (rightfully so), but did not care, even after disability groups met with you and told you, that millions of people with disabilities would be demeaned by your “satire”. You don’t seem to realize or care that kids will use your movie as another reason to take a derogatory term and use it as acceptable slang. My understanding is that you were even going to use the word in marketing products! Were you serious?! It takes us back to the day when the “n” word was thrown about casually as acceptable speech. Believe it or not, words make a difference. I have a child with a disability and I find the use of the word by intelligent people (including film studio executives, writers and actors) as an acceptable part of speech or as an attempt at humor both disheartening and infuriating.
Furthermore, your attempt at satire missed its mark as you don’t go away from the theatre only thinking about the actors who play the roles of disabled people. You go away with a view of the disabled that is held up as funny and demeaning. My understanding is that you tried hard to make sure that Mr. Downey’s character does not leave audiences with a demeaning view of African-Americans but with a view of his Caucasian character’s audacity to think he should or could play such a role. The same care should have been taken with the disabled storyline. Shame on you.
Laurie
August 16th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Lighten up, retards!
August 16th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Welcome to Communist China and the abolition of the First Amendment! I’m sick of all the whiners on these message boards who want all this censorship. Why don’t you move to Communist Cuba if you want the authorities to censor everything someone deems offensive. No matter what, someone is always going to be offended by something, so people should never make any movies.
And please, stop talking about the children! This is an “R” rated movie and children aren’t supposed to be seeing this movie anyway. That is why there are ratings, so you can personally censor what you don’t want in your house. This is a movie which is a farce, and people are taking this way to seriously. Retarded people are RETARDED! They have a mental disorder. Butch up, Sallys!
August 15th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Now I have seen this movie,
I think it is one of the best movies if not THE best movie of the year. All these parents are getting so p***y over a word, when really they need to shut-the-f****-up, its a word, alright get over it, your the ones making retard babies, maybe you should be made fun of. natural selection is supposed to fix this but noooo, we have to be humane to a child. I dont care what you say, im a human being too, i get to say what i want, and when did retard become a bad word? its called mental retardation, people have been using words out of context for a long time and this one is just another example.
August 14th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I’ll never forget the day my two adult sons were arguing. One told the other, “I’m no retard!” My nine-year-old daughter, who has Down syndrome had come into the room just then and began to cry. “I know. I am. I sorry,” she told her brothers, who were devastated at what had just happened. Later my daughter and I talked about bad names. I explained that “retarded” meant she had to try harder than anyone else, and that she is my hero. Suck eggs, Ben Stiller, and see if I buy any more of your movies.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Patricia - glad you have a “cause.” However, am more offended with the “F” word and the like everyone uses more than the “R” word. Used to be a day when men only cussed on the job or in the presence of other men. Now, we have nasty mouth men, women, and children who think these words are okay because television, radio, movies, etc. use them constantly.
Have you ever made it your “cause” to stomp out profanity?
Someone using the “R” word is making a small social blunder because if you are really retarded, then you don’t know any better and are not likely out in the mainstream.
People with Down Syndrome are not “R,” and the majority of people know this, so why are you making a big production out of this movie and connecting dots to dots when there is no need. You in your own way are telling DS people they are retarded. Is this the way you really want them to feel?
Shame on you.
Leave it be and let it have its phase — it will soon be gone.
RS Johnson
August 14th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Patricia-
I counted the use of the “R” word today on your news appearance (The M and J Morning Show) at least 10 times. So, if you want to “remove all references” then you have crossed the line by using the word yourself. Now, interestingly enough the station did not post the video on its news site as promised; instead they posted a George Lopez clip. I have to wonder why.
I’ve noticed how people seem to want to compare the “R” word to the “N” word. If we want to continue this comparison, what you’ve done would be the same. We shouldn’t say the “N” word” but then using the word in its entirety almost a dozen times on-air and uncensored. If that is not exploitation to make a point, I don’t know what is.
As a special education teacher I have seen the “lingo” of the industry change to be politically correct over the last few years, yet the definitions have stayed the same. It doesn’t matter if you say your daughter has Down Syndrome or if you say she is intellectually challenged, or even if you use the old terms to say she is mildly mentally handicapped/r-. It is still the same, the capacity of these individuals is less then the normal bell curve of intelligence. What interests me is that even though you are complaining about how horrible Ben Stiller was to use the “r” word in his movie, I didn’t hear you complain about how in the public education system these very students are being told they cannot possibly go to a university. That they can be in the education profession because they don’t have the mental aptitude, or in any job that requires a higher functioning cognitive ability. Perhaps you could direct your campaign to worthwhile causes such as allowing an adult with any of these intelligence challenges to take jobs as doctors, lawyers, educators, nurses, aides, and so forth. Why should they be held back because the nation feels they can do nothing but flip burgers, and be exploited by their loved ones who are only seeking to make a buck by suing in the name of the “victims” benefit.
Watching the entire display today on the M and J Morning show I was appalled and sickened by what was said by the so called “advocates.” What better way to exploit. And if people truly think that Johnny Knoxville has not uttered the “R” word or genuinely has concerned for the intellectually disabled, I find that very difficult to believe, because up to this point in time I’ve never heard his name mentioned in the special education advocacy groups. In fact, Johnny Knoxville is one of the stars of the movie and TV series “Jackass”. That certainly seems like an insult to people with cognitive disabilities to me, and at the very least implies some level of cognitive disability.
And how many of those with cognitive disabilities who are protesting the movie understand what and why they are protesting, and how many of them are simply being exploited by their friends/families/advocates just to have five minutes of fame and win a couple of bucks in a law suit.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
To Connie Marie,
I am not allowing anything - people are free to speak as they choose. It may hurt people’s feelings sometimes, but that is a small price for freedom of speech.
You are right, most were institutionalized back when my great uncle was alive. When I first met him I was quite young, and I didn’t see anything different about him. At that point he was living with family. Later on he was institutionalized; it wasn’t a pleasant place to visit.
I grew up in New England, I’m half Hispanic and when I was young I was rather fat - trust me I’ve heard some interesting things. Should I go out on a crusade for people name calling fat Hispanic kids? It’s part of life, and trust me “I” felt it. I was quite aware of what people were saying. I’m not so oversensitive I can’t take a personal joke, however I hand it right back. I’d rather people be carefree than so hypersensitive they don’t say more than hi and bye because they don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
I do appreciate your cordial reply.
Dan
August 13th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Simple WHAT????
Simply sue.
I have already contacted Gloria Allred on my son’s behalf, and look forward to the platform this will offer those who cannot otherwise speak for themselves easily.or at all.
Please contact Gloria Allred and join this Army of Champions of the END OF STIGMA.
Targeting such an innocent and vulnerable (AND GREATLY STIGMATIZED ALREADY) segment of our population has to be turned into an AWARENESS RAISING OPPORTUNITY.
Or is it ok with you that the majority of handicapped persons don’t have life you could even LOOK AT?
Been to a Group Home lately? A state hospital?
Donated time or money to help those who you laugh at?
Do you think they CHOOSE to have these challenges?
Where do you think they can turn for advocacy?
Not only do NOT see the j-word (junk) movie…but think a lot, folks-
As they say , ‘when they came for the Jews, i was not Jewish, so i said nothing.’
They just came after my son,and YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, so I’ve got to defend him.Will YOU?
If you can turn away when you see ‘us’ out there, if you can continue to not hire, not understand, not care and just use your uneducated ‘humor’ to deal with Mental Illness, or Developmental Disabilities, or Cerebral Palsy…
Then go see this film with a Foster kid, or be a Big Brother/Big Sister to an affected kid OR ADULT…by all means, when they begin to cry, do something besides
TURN AWAY.
YOU cry.YOU.
Because in our lifetimes, over 70 percent of us will HAVE a cognitive or physical disability.
Unless you think it’s funny. Funny enough to push a blind person into traffic, funny enough to pin a note to a deaf kid’s shirt and sit her in a hallway, funny enough to well, hey, lock them up for the rest of their lives in a group home..
WHERE THE FAVORITE OUTING OF CHOICE IS A MOVIE ADVENTURE.
SHAME ON DREAMWORKS, SHAME ON STILLER, SHAME ON ANYONE WHO STOOPS TO THIS DEPTH AND CARES NOT.
They better get lawyered up pretty quick. And learn the only way that truly ‘handicapped’ (read ’soul-less) people learn.
If you are a parent with the same idea, don’t be silent-I know your days and nights are already full of 24 hour caring for precious members of our world-I am one of you-
CALL your local theatre and EMAIL Dreamworks and PROTEST the best way you can-do NOT let your child see movies that include the trailers for this-which will keep us ALL out of the theatre…
Because they went there.Now they can pay for it. We do. And thanks to their mega-status….THEY CAN PAY NOW.
Jerry Stiller? GO GET YOUR KID AND TEACH HIM WHAT MATTERS IN LIFE.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:57 am
The R word is just as offensive as the N word. As the mother of a child with an intellectual disability, I find Tropic Thunder as offensive, disgusting and downright crude. And for Paramount to allow such trash on the screen is a disgrace!! I will not spend money on this movie nor will I ever go see a movie made by Paramount.
And for those who think its “no big deal”…..get real!! This is the problem with society!! They think it’s okay to teach our children to conduct themselves in a hate crime manner!!
August 13th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Being a caseworker at a childrens home for more than 8 years, working with children of whom are mental challenge, or ofter look like you and I, but organically what was suppose to happen in the brain did not. The children I have worked with face enough peer pressure from children whom are perfectly normal and do not realize how blessed they are to be normal. Those normal children have enough idea’s about name calling, making fun of, and treating these children different. I believe this movie’s name will give more idea’s. I can see the kids coming in my office now upset. I wish they would re-think this.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:14 am
As a school attorney and the mother of a lovely teenage daughter with autism, I am proud of all of the work this website and all others have done to call attention the reckless indifference many have towards our most vulnerable citizens.
Keep speaking up! Evil will flourish when good people do nothing. All of you have slowed down the Hollywood juggernaut, and at least forced those accountable to explain themselves. And unless I’m imagining it, Mr. Stiller, et al, seem rather put out that they are being questioned on this at all!
As we say in litigation: you might not win, but don’t make it free!
BOYCOTT
August 13th, 2008 at 6:14 am
I think you people are way out of line. It’s a movie, which is entertainment and ultimately, free speech. The only recourse you should have is to NOT see it. Dreamworks doesn’t owe you an apology, they don’t owe you money and they certainly don’t own you anything for your self-serving sense of entitlement. You’ve only hurt your position in my eyes, not helped it. Further, the movie doesn’t endorse making fun of people with disabilities, it’s pointing out that people are getting rich in Hollywood by selling you, the very same people complaining, lame movies about people with disabilities under the veil of trying to do some good. No they aren’t. They are trying to milk you for cash. You missed the point on ALL fronts, and quite frankly detracting from what looks to be a funny film. Please just shut up and if you don’t want to see the film, don’t see it. Your only adding to their publicity by complaining. Get it? You missed that too… Amateurs.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
The R-word is absolutely every bit as harmful a word as the N-word. This is not about being politically correct. You may not care about what language is used to describe people if it doesn’t affect you. Let me tell you that the effect that this word and many other labels have on people with disabilities isn’t about whineing and complaining. The effects are very real. People have been killed because of this word, same as the N-word. There are also very real barriers to inclusion as a part of society. Get over it? How can we, it is shouted in the ear of anyone who might even appear to have a cognitive disability, and even many whose disability is physical every day of our lives. It affects what choices we have in our lives, and even whether or not we are allowed to have the basic human rights that everyone else can take for granted. Shame on Ben Stiller,Shame on Dreamworks pictures, and shame for that matter on anyone who uses that term lightly, as if it is a joke, because it is not! It is an ugly word that conotes that the 200 million people around the world, who have developmental disabilities are something less than human. It is total disrespect at its core! This kind of disrespect has no place in entertainment.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Ben Stiller
Needs to be Educated about People with Disabilities and the Name Retared because it will hurt a lot of People with Disabities to see that Movie. and Ben’s Parents need to watch what he is saying this and he needs to have his mouth out with soap and that is no Joke talking about People With Disabilities for any body with a disabilities
Lucy odden
anchorage, Alaska
August 12th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Speaking as an autistic, retard is an extremely offensive word, as offensive as nigger. Most disabled people seem to agree with me. It may not bother some as much, but it still generally should not be used. And as for the people who say that ‘it’s just a joke’, you have no idea what you are talking about. I saw someone write that blacks and jews are made fun of, and since they take it, so should we. The fact is, these minorities have made much more progress against racism and prejudice than disabled people. Yes, they still have a long way to go, but not as far as the disabled. Retard is still used as a common insult, whereas if someone uses nigger, they are pretty much in their own minority.
As for the film, I won’t pass judgement until I hear a statement from Ben Stiller explaining himself. Only then can I accurately tell how the movie is offensive.
August 12th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Laugh at ourselve, fine. I agree laugh at yourself, but don’t laugh at, ridicule, put down, degrade others as this movie does. I have a child with Down Syndrome and I too am very offended by the use of the word retard to describe an individual with a mental handicap, as well as the message this movie is sending. Parents of children with disabilities have fought long and hard to dispel the stereotypes placed on our children. We have fought to get them included in basis things like school. We have fought and still are fighting to get acceptance for them in society. I have seen through out the years that my child is in school a big difference in the way he has been treated through out the years. The grade school kids are very accepting and welcoming. They took the disabled kids under their wings and helped them along, encourage them on and included them. Then you get into Jr High, teen age years, they are less accepting and the teasing starts. In high school I see less and less acceptance and more cruelty. This movie is only fostering cruel treatment of the disabled community. These actors are looked up to and emulated by young people who are still being shaped into the adults they will become. To have these actors make choices like doing a movie in such poor taste only reinforces to the audience its ok to make fun of a group of people unable to defend themselves. Its NOT OK…
I agree these actors would not be doing this movie if their children were disabled.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I love Ben Stiller & Jack Black and still do but they are not using good judgement in their choice of roles or to associate themselves with what is in this film. It does matter. Words do matter and then hurt people. They surely arent promoting a good view of people with intellectual disabilities. I don’t think it is a matter of being “thick skinned”. Races would not like it if they were called derogatory words so why should the disabled community put up with it? I am the mom of a child with an undiagnosed disability. http://www.mysnugly.com I did write the people involved with this film and told them how I feel. Now, I don’t think it will change them, but as an American we surely have freedom of speech. Come on now, you guys are funny…do you have such a mental block in your minds that you have to sink to poking fun of people with disabilities for your comedy? Hey, I can be offended and not like what they have put out and still be cordial to these people. I don’t have a problem with that. I am called to love. I do think someday they will realize what they have done. If not here then on the other side of life.
August 11th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
As the mother of a downs syndrome child, it is offensive to me, anytime anyone uses the “R” word. It is hurtful, and uncalled for. If everyone could have a retarded child, then it probably wouldn’t be funny to anyone. It is no laughing matter to constantly have your child be made fun of, or laughed at, for something that they cannot control. It is becoming the word of choice in lots of other TV movies, and as soon as I hear the word, I turn the channel, and never watch the show again. I truly hope the movie is a big flop, and I will never support a movie that Ben Stiller is in, again. Maybe someday, he too, will have a retarded child, he won’t be laughing so hard, then.
August 11th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Hollywood shouldn’t use the words imbecile, moron, idiot or retard? Oh come on!! I cannot think of anyone who does not use those words as part of normal conversation.
They are virutally never used to insult or imply insult to people with disabilities.
This is political correctness gone far awry, as has happened in so many cases over the last decade or so.
Word and thought police will have us speaking in Big Brother-ese soon, as every word seems to be insulting to someone, somewhere.
I plead with Dreamworks not to change a thing. Don’t give into this culture of victimhood or extreme oversensitivity.
I hope this is indeed shared with the execs there, who thank goodness still want to make funny movies.
I adore Ben Stiller (see him make fun of himself, brilliantly, in the first season of “extras”) and we should all lighten up, realize that to laugh at ourselves is maybe a good thing and get on with something more important to worry about.
August 11th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
First of all, I will admit that I have not seen this movie, nor will I do so. So I am speaking from reading about it and reseaching it alone.
I am the mother of a severely disabled child who is greatly offended not only by the movie using the word Retard to degrade those in our community that cannot defend themselves. But I am also offended by those on here that say things like “it’s just a movie” or “freedom of speech” or “get a sense of humor”. Since when it is humorous to make fun of those people who didn’t make the choice to live these lives?
You don’t see movies using the “n” word anymore, because the african americans in today’s society would be “up in arms” about it. And rightly so.
But people feel that it is ok and even funny to use retard to make fun of a community that can’t be “up in arms” about it, simply because they can’t speak.
Well, I can speak for my son and I will do so on this topic.
Freedom of speech is so that people can speak their minds, but no where in the first amendment will you find anything about it being ok to demean others or to make light of everyday struggles of others.
My husband is a United States Marine and he DOES in fact fight for our rights and freedoms, but if you ask him…..he fights to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Furthermore he fights to defend those from the onslaught of abuse of people who feel they can twist the wording of any amendment to fit their needs in making fun of others.
I would like to see the “movie within the movie” entitled “Once there was a Retard” taken out of the movie along with a public apology from Ben Stiller and the production team of this movie.
They obviously do not have a special needs child and have no idea what we as parents go through to fight for our children. We want for them what everyone else wants for their kids, happiness and respect. Our children fight daily just to survive. They put up with being stared at, pointed at, made fun of, called names and generalized about. We don’t need Hollywood making light of this struggle.
I hope they see that this is hurtful, not funny. I am so offended in fact, that I refuse to see any other movies put out with Ben Stiller and Jack Black in them.
I hope that they can see our argument and at least apologize to our community.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I think that people are getting way too worked up about this whole thing. It’s a movie, for God’s sake!
They’re sending up movies that actually are offensive about people with mental disabilities. I’m disgusted to see all the posts on this page talking about how the movie should be banned or boycotted. Grow a sense of humor, people! I understand that mental disabilities are no laughing matter, but you people are annoying, ************* fuddy duddies.
I have a member of my family who has mental disabilities, and I have confidence in these actors that they can pull this off. And please, you people haven’t even seen the movie yet! Sheesh.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
The offensive part here truly is the word… I believe the African-American community take similar offense to the word “nig*er” regardless of satirical liberties. “Dumb and Dumber” did not label themselves as poignantly as individuals with disabilities versus a couple of moronic post-adolescents… the audience was left to determine that level for themselves. Dreamworks and Paramount clearly provide that determination for their audience with these type of labels.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:58 am
It would certainly be great if we could get someone like Ben Stiller to get on the bandwagon with us rather than make fun of the developmentaly disabled. They are some of the most deserving people who are being targeted for more cost reduction from our state and local authorities right now.
Instead of ridiculing them for things that are beyond their control, if the movie industry were to get behind a movement to help fund the needs of the developmentally disabled perhaps we could make our world a better, safer place for them.
None of them chose to be in this category but they are, and as such are in need of care, as well as, the funding for at least a minimal life.
Please help - don’t hurt!
August 11th, 2008 at 8:29 am
After reading this article, I was saddened to realize what little progress this country has made in the area of civil rights for those with disabilities. This would be totally unacceptable for any other population, and because Hollywood and Mr. Stiller choose to pick the most vulnerable among us, it is a sad day indeed.
It should be extremely hard for anyone with any intelligence to imagine a theater full of people, laughing at a person with developmental disabilities.
August 11th, 2008 at 8:13 am
How a person is labeled reflects how a person is treated by a society. This is not a silly issue over politically correct terminology. When we as a society feel comfortable mocking groups of individuals is also when we as a society feel comfortable keeping those individuals in a marginalized or dependent state.
Hollywood today is under constant critique for racist or sexist images just as society today is being forced to tear down old racial and gender barriers.
That persons with disabilities can still be mocked happens in a society when persons with disabilities are marginalized by keeping them from voting, forcing them into group “homes” and closed workshops instead of allowing and supporting them to live and work in their communities.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Okay, I’ve heard enough about the movie now to think it probably is nothing but offensive. My concern is the effectiveness of our response. Simply protesting a movie is probably going to backfire. People will just lump us with all the other offended groups with no sense of humor. We need to do it, certainly, but it should be part of a larger proactive campaign. And that campaign shouldn’t focus on the R word, because that’s just a small part of the issue and will also backfire. Our message is already confusing on that issue, even in our own community. In any event, this movie will be forgotten soon. A campaign for civil rights for people with ID in the media should happen long before the next movie comes along.
August 11th, 2008 at 6:32 am
I myself haven’t seen the movie yet, and I admire Ben Stiller for most movies that he does. But with this one, right from the get go the “Dreamworks” company are already putting a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t appreciate the wording on the front of the movie cover, “Once upon a Time….There was a retard,” just not cool at all. We turn on the news everyday and see hatred towards each other why does it have to be in the movies, come on now, I want to laugh, but not at someone else’s demeanor, it’s just plain WRONG.
Alexandra Bruneau
August 10th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I just thought I would chime in here with my own thoughts in the matter.
While I fear that as a society we are becoming too dependent on making everything as non-offensive and bland as possible, I also feel that it is a lot about context. Myself, I often make cracks that a certain individual seems like he or she is legally retarded, but I do so based on their actions or the ideas they put forth. A good example of a comedian doing this would be Darrell Hammond on the Celebrity Jeopardy sketches of Saturday Night Live. He does so in response to a lengthy babble by an impersonated Robin Williams that makes no sense and would merely be annoying if not for this response.
Point being that sometimes calling a person retarded can be a very good thing, given the context. After being diagnosed with a form of autism around my twenty-fifth birthday, and being left to rot for not appearing disabled enough by my government in the meantime, I find that calling mainstream society’s approach to dealing with autism and the autistic “retarded” is incredibly fitting. Pointing out why even turns the whole thing around and places the burden of justification on what I frequently refer to as the normies.
So rather than merely beg DreamWorks to change their film (which I know is not going to happen) or their marketing materials (which is unlikely), why not mount a campaign of your own. Point out to the public who do not know that DreamWorks is literally retarded (WordNet: “relatively slow in *mental* or *emotional* or physical development” (emphasis mine)) when it comes to proper understanding of neurological issues or conditions. Educate the public about the nature of retardation or Down’s Syndrome or other associated neurological conditions that certain elements want you to believe are “baaaaaad”. Ask people like DreamWorks’ owners what they think of the fact that Pauline and Hermann Einstein were once told that their son Albert, who had already exhibited delayed speech development and an inability to devote his attention to anything other than theorical physics, was retarded.
It is this last point that is especially important. You might be tempted to think that by hounding DreamWorks about this film, you will cause people to think “wow, I should not joke about or make fun of the retarded, then”. It just does not work like that. If people are allowed to remain ignorant, they will do so, and ignorance is a major foundation of prejudice. Take the time to inform those around you, and the change in our world that we all seek may just happen yet.
Finally, Tropic Thunder is just one film of many financed and filmed by Paramount and DreamWorks. The best people to take up outrage against the content with are the screenwriters, the directors, the leading actors, and most importantly the companies that pay to be associated with the film. Not to mention the people who actually run the companies. Protesting a faceless entity, which is basically what DreamWorks and Paramount are, is like throwing mud at a wall.
August 10th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Keyser, People who see Ben Stiller’s farce-comedies go not because they’re looking for deep political messages. They go to laugh. They expect to be entertained. So I think there will be a lot of people who are not going to feel “entertained” after viewing this movie because of the special liberties he took with his portrayal of Simple Jack and ongoing “retard” gags regardless of the message he hoped to convey. I think people are going to walk out and say he went way overboard. I think he will lose his credibility for the cheap shots he took.
The ends simply do not justify the means. That’s history 101.
August 10th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I think, Keyser Soze, that you may not have a child who will be discriminated against in a playground because of their mental differences. I think that a statement like ‘Grow thicker skin and move on with your lives’ is evidence that you do not actually know what this discussion is about. I think that you fail to appreciate that most commenters here have already grown thicker skin, and this discussion IS them moving on with their lives. I think that perhaps you are too far removed from the people who risk being hurt by this characterisation to be able to add meaningfully to the discussion. Enjoy your movies by all means, but be aware of their power and their context for people other than yourself.
August 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Wow. We are really a bunch of over-sensitive people, aren’t we?
The “full retard” scene does not make fun of people with mental disabilities. That scene makes fun of Hollywood actors who take roles like that because of their Oscar potential. The film is about Hollywood (think “The Player” meets Appatow).
Grow thicker skin and move on with your lives. There are far more pressing problems in the world than what is being said in a bloody movie.
August 10th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Movies do leave poweful impressions, or they wouldn’t be a billion dollar industry.
As a mother of a 5-year-old with DS, it is important for these individuals to be viewed with compassion and not ridicule. Those who make light of the word retard may not realize they are promoting bullying.
Bullying is defined as vicitimizing a single person who is incapable of defending himself or herself and has become a serious issue in our society and should not be tolerated for the sake of a laugh.
Free speech? Or good taste? Expressing your opinion is one thing, but when you are selling it, that changes everything. Dreamworks has already proven they can do better than this.
August 10th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I agree with everything that is said above. I have a cousin who has Down Syndrome and it is not right to make fun of people with disablities. I believe that they need to fully remove these offensive words from this movie and perhaps any other movies in the future that could possibly insult disabled people.
August 10th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Whether or not my being offended by the use of the word retard matters to the users of this hurtful term, I must speak up on behalf of those who can’t defend themselves.
Even though I personally find your insensitive attempt at humor cheap, classless, heartless and thoroughly unfunny, I realize this is your best.
I know not all humor appeals to all audiences, but it would be nice to draw the line at cruelty. This has nothing to do with the right to free speech. This is about commerce and seeing who will buy your crass brand of comedy.
August 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
“Intellectual and mental disabilities” “special needs” is just as offensive “retard.”
August 10th, 2008 at 11:59 am
This movie saddens me, as a mother of a beautiful child with Down syndrome this is exactly the kind of stuff we are trying to change. My son is far from “simple” he is a wonderful and smart little guy that is more like “typical” children then not. He may take a little longer to learn to do things, but when he does, it is such a joy.. He has taught us patience, unconditional love and to have joy and thankfulness over the small things. To the last person who posted on here “tracii” I have to say : do you have a child with a disability??? Your comments are uneducated and ignorant… everyone is so PC about other things but see nothing wrong with making fun of disabilities..????? If you are ever in an accident and become physically or mentally disabled, how would you feel? Should we then make jokes at YOUR expense???? How would you feel????
August 10th, 2008 at 1:50 am
its absolutely rediculous that this is even being brought up as an issue. its a movie. dont take something like this so seriously and throw a hissy fit. by demanding they edit the movie the way you want them to, you are taking away the filmakers right to free speech. plus, when robert downey jr.’s character in the movie uses those terms you want taken out, he is refering to ben stillers character. not a disabled person. people need to stop making big deals out of things. be it a race issue, sexual orientation issue, or has to do with someone with disabilities. im just sick and tired of big deals being made out of the most rediculous things.
August 9th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Shame on Stiller and DreamWorks! At the very least, they should edit out the demeaning references to Stiller’s “fake” character in the film even if it means postponing the opening date and losing a few dollars in the process. How pathetic and money hungry can one get to totally disrespect a population of people who are mostly gentle, kind and unable to fully understand how or why “humans” can be so cruel. Who are the real “imbeciles” and “morons” here? Think about it!
August 9th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Let’s face it…if Ben Stiller had children with special needs, this movie never would have gotten made.
August 9th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Though I am a fan of free speech, I also think that it is the responsibility of major companies, such as DreamWorks, to consider the social ramifications of their movies. As a parent of two children with Down syndrome, I ache every time I hear the slanderous use of the term “retard”. To dismiss an entire population of people as “retards”, “imbeciles”, “idiots” or “morons” is socially irresponsible and really should not happen in this modern age. I don’t think that this type of discussion regarding any other minority group, including blacks, Hispanics or gays and lesbians would even be necessary, it is only those with disabilities who are still the acceptable target of such hateful language.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:51 am
When Ben Stiller first started out he was irreverent and funny. Through the years he has tried to become more mainstream (to make more $$$) and now has fallen to poking fun at people with intellectual disabilities.
I wonder how Mr. Stiller would feel if we made a movie poking fun at his faith?
I wonder how Mr. Stiller would feel if he and his wife’s children were “retarded” or otherwise being labeled and then ridiculed?
Is Mr. Stiller proud to show this poster to his family, friends, and children?
Does he feel strongly that the income he receives from this is clean, honest money sowed from good faith?
DreamWorks, well, it’s a big company and they are going to do what it takes to make bucks. If you are reading this and have any ownership (through stock, etc.) please cut your ties today. If you feel strongly about this issue please not only boycott this ridiculous failed attempt at entertainment but also boycott DreamWords in its entirety. Let them know you not only won’t throw your money away on Mr. Stiller’s demeaning endeavor but not on the output of this studio, focused only on money and not on people.
Support your independent filmmakers, production companies and theaters!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
It’s a movie!! If you don’t like the idea of it, don’t go and see it.
This is a free country and the last time I checked bad taste is not against the law.
I may not agree with what is on screen but they have the right and the freedom to say it.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
With all the creative people in Hollywood and talented actors this is the best idea they could come up with for a movie?
I’m a parent of a special needs adult and I don’t see any humor in this.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
This doesn’t have anything to do with disability or how people are misrepresented. What it is is a bunch of Hollywood people who go down their list matching the illiterati, idiotis, and ignorami dollar for dollar. They know exactly what they’re doing here and using all these parents to promote their movie.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I am very offended at the thought that this would even be allowed, people with disabilities are not retarded or idiots, it is not to be made fun of, and it is mocking us with disabilities. We have just begun being included in the community as real people, who work, have family’s go to college etc.
I am a strong self advocate and I am certainly not going to see this movie, I am very disappointed with Dreamworks, Paramount and the actors involved in this movie. I find it appalling.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
How cruel! I will not watch or support this movie! I will forward this to everyone I know so that they will not promote this movie!!! This is VERY disrespectful and rude! What is the world coming to. And I thought we were trying to teach children to be respectful and polite!
August 8th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
As a interventionist for children with disabilities, it saddens my heart to see we have such ignorance in todays society towards people with disabilities. Until you see first hand how a disability affects an entire family you can understand how such words can deeply hurt those involved with that child. Its movies like these that prove we are not growing as a society towards the acceptance of people with disabilities.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I can’t believe that so many people are getting so upset about content they haven’t seen, based only on rumors they’ve heard.
I don’t know if Ms. Bauer has actually seen the movie she’s protesting - I suspect not. But I actually attended a preview screening of the film, and contrary to what Ms. Bauer is saying, it doesn’t make fun of people with disabilities. It satirizes actors and movie studios who make bad and socially insensitive films out of ignorance.
As for the posters who are comparing it to holocaust jokes… Hollywood has been making comedies about the Nazis and the holocaust for years, in the form of films and TV shows like “The Producers” and “Hogan’s Heroes.” In my opinion, the comedy in “Tropic Thunder” is in the same silly, irreverent vein.
As we all know, there is no shortage of serious issues that immediately affect the quality of life of people with disabilities in America. I’m genuinely mystefied as to why Ms. Bauer would encourage people to turn their energy and attention away from those issues in order to protest a piece of Hollywood summertime fluff that no intelligent person could rationally mistake for being serious. I worry, in fact, that when activists pour their resources into issues as trivial as this, they actually undermine their own credibility when it comes to being heard on larger, more serious matters.
True, the movie might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But if people really want to make a difference, aren’t there more pressing issues they should address?
August 8th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I’ve sat here and read a bunch of these posts, and it seems like some people that have posted have taken a good look at the big picture, and others are just in an angry rage. I like the idea of having a forum about this sort of thing, but despite the number of comments on here, it doesn’t seem that anyone is actually listening to each other, so I’m not sure why I’m even posting this. Hopefully someone will read it.
Of course the topic of disabilities is a serious one.
Of course a lot of terrible things are said about and done to individuals with such disabilities, which should not happen.
Of course a lot of this hate comes from ignorance and lack of understanding, perhaps lack of morals.
This kind of thing should not have to be said over and over–if you are a sensible, logical person you should understand this innately, and respect the fact that others also understand this.
However, Tropic Thunder (which is what I understood this thread to be about, not about opinions on disabilities in general) is a movie. Movies make comments and tell stories. That is all. The problem here is not the movie Tropic Thunder, but people. Whether a person sees Tropic Thunder or not may not have an effect on how they see the world at all. Hopefully (as I’ve seen Tropic Thunder) it will raise the appropriate questions, such as “what is a respectful way to portray a character in a movie with disabilities, and what does one hope to gain by such a portrayal?” Which is what I got out of the movie, as well as similar questions about other topics, such as race, materiality, cons, etc.
This is about being an educated audience, not about what topics a movie contains. I believe that Tropic Thunder is very appropriate for the educated audience.
Furthermore, I don’t think that the movie should be changed at all, but that the buzz around this movie will prompt people to educate others about topics such as this in order to see the movie in the light it is supposed to be seen.
The movie should be taken in context, as everything, and it would be appropriate to see the movie before passing judgment.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:45 am
We recently started an alliance, the Autism Awareness Alliance, to bring a voice to developmental disabilities in the media. I will consult with all members of our alliance on this and get to work. I am in touch with the ARC and we will help with any course of action neccessary.
My personal take on the situation (this is not an official stance by the alliance) is that using their pocket book and media connections is the best solution. If their opening day cannot be stopped while they edit the scenes, then their advertising and distribution process is in full swing. The best way to tackle this is to use their same media lines and process.
I think that the movie should be accompanied by numerous PSA’s before and after the movie and television trailers at their expense at the bare minimum. The company should also play PSAs before future movies and future trailers FOR ATLEAST A YEAR. They will have to undo the damage and should use their future time bought in the theater and on television to air PSA’s along with whatever they promote.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I’m not sure if this will have any positive effect but here goes anyway …
Why do WE Americans even go to see these ignorant types of films? If they didn’t make money, the film makers wouldn’t bother making them! We can blame others (like the movie studios and the actors) but the truth is, it’s just as much our fault for providing them with funding for this offensive junk. There’s a better way than writing blogs to stop this from happening - just BOYCOT the film and get everyone you know to do the same. Money talks.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:34 am
With all due respect to an incredible talent of our time, Lenny Bruce was wrong. Words and labels are not just words and labels. They harm people and lead people to act against each other in violent and terrifying ways. Hitler used this same tactic to arouse hate, suspicion and vengeance against some 6 million people. By the time the Nazis arrived in Ukraine, for example, to round up the Jews there and segregate them to ghettos, negative sentiment had already been established against the Jews. Long time neighbors and friends thought little of the relocation because they came to believe through labels and propaganda that Jews were useless, ignorant, and worse, that they were evil and capable of heinous acts. By the time the Nazis rounded up the Jews, and dug trenches in which to either bury them alive or shoot them, those same neighbors and friends were quick to even help with the atrocities of mass murdering innocent people because of their label.
When the media resorts to the use of victimizing stigmatizing labels and stereotypic representation of individuals perceived as different, it is actively participating in no less of a crime than was committed by Hitler. Once individuals are devalued, humiliated, and degraded in such a way as is portrayed by the character Simple Jack, the human race is only one small step away from justifying the annihilation of an entire population of individuals. It is also important to note that because of the perceptions toward individuals with disabilities being lower life organisms, Hitler’s scientists used them to engage in atrocious violent research activity that by today’s standards would make Abu Ghraib look like a day at Disneyland.
I urge you to retract all belittling denotation of individuals with disabilities, that you consider individuals with disabilities to be valuable and valued members of society to be respected. I urge you to use the power of media and the arts to portray these individuals in their truest light, with assets and beneficial potential and contributions, not to be pitied, not to be subjects of oppression and dehumanization.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Dreamworks, Ben Stiller and all connected with this movie should be ashamed of themselves! This sort of labeling is just plain meanness, not humor!
August 7th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
I have been having conversations recently with many of the folks I work with about labels and stereotypes being so prevalent in our culture. The reality is that civility and mutual respect has long ago been replaced by hurtfulness in the name of speaking our minds on issues we have no knowledge of.
I think until one becomes a parent of someone with a disability, or has disabilities themselves, or even knows a person with a disability, they don’t fully get the humiliation of the these words. Shame on Mr, Stiller, after having two children, does he not see how important it is to uplift our children to their fullest potential.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
All you people talk about rights and freedom of speech but what about our kids rights? They have a right to be respected and their voices to be heard just like each and every one of you. Blond jokes, womens rights league, black jokes - the naacp, jewish have The Anti-Defamation League, gay jokes,they have glaad. Animals have PETA at the filming location, etc…
You all have your voice, you can tell them to stop and someone in the industry will hear and offer an apology and not run the program again but can my daughter tell you the same? Unfortunately my 3 year old with DS can’t tell you how this word degrades her and how her 5 year old brother will feel once he understands that this hate word is used to poke fun at her, to make her feel worthless, a subhuman in all of your eyes.
It is not that we are oversensitive, we are parents, friends, brothers and sisters that believe that people with disabilities deserve some dignity and respect and we are sick of everyone thinking its “okay” because no one stands up to confront this situation.. It’s gone long enough.
Were blacks, gays, latinos oversensitive over racial slurs back in the 60’s? No, they had a right to be angry and they did something about it.
Cowards always hit on the most vulnerable. Whether you’d like to call it satire, humor, etc.. it’s hurtful nontheless and it’s just not right regardless of it not being intended to hurt but to make you laugh. Laugh about what? About someone not being able to defend themselves, looking different, speaking different? having a child’s mental capabilites when they are adults? That’s supposed to be funny?
I won’t boycott Ben Stiller’s movies or Jack Black’s for that matter. They have young children and hopefully will see what a terrible mistake they’ve made. It could have easily been avoided if they had consulted with a disability group about the verbiage on the script or maybe just maybe been able to use common sense.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
To Dan James. You were lucky to have your great uncle around because most people were institutionalized back then. How could you say that your uncle or anyone else you worked with would have found humor in Simple Jack and the running gag of “going full retard?” Isn’t that sort of cowardly watching from the sidelines other people make fun of your uncle and the people with whom you worked? How could you stand by and allow that to happen?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I have seen discrimination in my 53 years in several forms. It is wrong to be offensive in public and blatantly hurt another human being’s feelings by the names you use with no regard for an individual’s feelings … This is not only based on ability, but color, size, shape, and status.
Secondly, to talk discriminately within a group about another human being (within earshot or not), to single them out for a “deficit” and obviously to poke fun for their discomfort … this is not only bullying, but hatred at its finest.
Don’t tell me it’s only poking fun and that they should “suck it up” and take it for the joke it isn’t. Parents, with ignorance to others’ feelings, breed children to be ignorant of their peers’ feelings.
For Hollywood to blatantly make a movie, even unseen, that would use words in a discriminatory way to poke fun at another only encourages it in the community. I hear the word “retard” regularly as a slang term for someone’s innate, asinine actions, and therefore, cannot find the humor in using it so blatantly, in a movie attracting teens (and pre-teens).
To question people using this word is no different than questioning the use of words like nigger, dyke, and wop. Certainly prejudice prevails here. Maybe if Stiller, or Downey, or Black had a child with a disability, they could fully understand the demoralization of using hate words.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Shocking! Absolutely shocking …
Both actors should have refused to read the lines! Shame on the writer, the producers, the directors, the actors!!! I hope the movie is an instant flop! It makes me sick to my stomach.
We are proud to have a wonderful son who by all legal definitions is “mentally retarded.” He brightens every single day, every single moment!
August 7th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I am the mother of a severely disabled daughter. I have cried so much over her disabilities. I wish I could help her but, it is up to God. Then there are people like this who choose to hurt us even more. Why? Why is this funny to some of you?
Karen
August 7th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I think they should switch the parody to actors and film industry people who continue to make money off the Holocaust. How about a parody with an actor who thinks that playing a Holocaust victim will win them an Oscar? Of course, that’s not anything to laugh about it, either, but hey, who’s taking any of this personal?
August 7th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Seeing all this is disturbing. I had a great-uncle that was mentally retarded, and have worked and cared for people that had mental retardation and varying degrees of mental disabilities.
Most that could understand the movie would find the humor in it — and they’d be disgusted with how you people are over-reacting and whining about it. What’s offensive is that you think you know what’s best for everyone, and acting like you need to speak up for the mentally retarded which is demeaning in itself.
Unfortunately most of you are experiencing “retardation” of common sense and humor. Get over it. If you don’t like what you hear, unfortunately for you some of the basic principles on which the United States was built upon was freedom of speech and expression. If you don’t believe me, take some time away from crying about everything and look it up.
China is pretty good about containing what their population says, you could live there and live in politically correct harmony. How about we “ban” people bitching about things in any manner while we’re at it?
August 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
We have to see the movie first!
This could be a horrible insulting movie — or it could be a great parody with a good message. We just don’t know yet.
How many of us in the ID community were horrified when we first heard about “The Ringer?” Turns out it had a positive respectful message and Special Olympics participated in it.
Let’s wait and (literally) see. Let’s not look like we’re overreacting or our message won’t be taken as seriously next time — don’t want to cry wolf.
As for using “retard” and other words, well, as I have to explain to self-advocates, sometimes you have to say something out loud to criticize it. Especially with parody.
We’re not going to make a better world for our kids (I have a 7-year-old with Down syndrome) by stomping our feet every time someone says anything that might even come close to offending us. The world is more complicated than that, and so are the movies. People are trying to laugh with us instead of at us sometimes, let’s not mix up the two.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I am appalled by the lack of tact Dreamworks is showing for people with disabilities. Perhaps someone should remind them that “poking fun” at people who are disabled is neither funny nor witty. You would think that with their wide range of creativity, they could come up with something less offensive and more intelligent to make people laugh.
Instead, they choose to use demeaning, hurtful language to make money and for the sake of “entertaining”. I think it’s obvious who has the “simple” minds in this situation. Expand your horizons, DreamWorks and Ben Stiller. You certainly won’t be making money from my family anytime soon.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
As I read the comments of the people who have commented pro and con on the choice of words DreamWorks has used in this movie, I find it very interesting only those supporting DreamWorks have not used their real names. If they are so strongly convinced that the use of the word ‘retard’ is not offensive, why do they feel it necessary to hide behind a pseudonym?
August 7th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Please just think of how you would feel if someone took your most glaring insecurity and put it in a movie. It isn’t fair to knowingly do that to someone else.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
We’ve come so far in the past 30 years since I was a little girl, so it’s really sad to me to think that my almost 5-year-old with Down syndrome will have to encounter people who have been influenced by this movie. We don’t need a new catch-phrase “full retard!” It’s offensive and hurtful! DreamWorks should be ashamed of their shameless disregard to the feelings of a very special part of our population.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:30 am
It is appalling that a movie would make a movie about a “retard.” Everyone has feelings, and this is a slap in the face. It’s bad enough that there is so much violence, sex, and offensive language in the movies. People who are mentally challenged or families of mentally challenged should ban this movie. I believe the movie should be removed and burned. An apology should made to all people of disabilities. Is there a message or a lesson to learned from this movie? What is the purpose of the movie? Unless there is a great lesson to be learned, remove this movie.
Thanks, Sharon
August 7th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Though we are all different, we are all human beings to be treated with love. We all have our own different set of issues. Don’t think that one person is worthy of discrimination or teasing.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:18 am
As a mother of a daughter with Down Syndrome, I would like to see the wording changed. In today’s society you would think people would be more sensitive to others with disabilities.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:46 am
I can’t believe that in today’s world you people have the nerve to still use the word “retard”! I will not go to that movie NOR will anyone that i know…..
with pain in my heart over that word.
debbie
August 7th, 2008 at 3:58 am
I was so disgusted when I received the email that informed me of this movie’s upcoming release. Our world has so far to come as far as becoming aware of people within our community with disabilities.
I am shocked that such a prominent movie industry and such a prominent actor (Ben Stiller) would blatantly display their ignorance and lack of care on the screen in this way. Could you imagine if a movie was made that disrespected other people, such as certain racial minorities? It would not be tolerated. Yet this is supposed to be ok?
People with disabilities often do not have a voice that is loud enough to defend themselves, so it is the job of us as their parents, friends, and loved ones to fight for their respect and dignity. And that is a fight that I am willing to fight forever.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:32 am
You are absolutely correct! Let’s go burn some books and ban some movies. If anyone disagrees with us we can burn them too. We cant afford to let people run around forming their own opinions or anything. It would be anarchy. God forbid we have to actually parent our children instead of letting the TV do it. Maybe we can go the radical Islam route and not have to worry about these kind of things! Or maybe I’m over reacting and trying to force my beliefs on others, but probably not. Burn ‘em!
August 6th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I saw a film clip of Tropic Thunder on Jay Leno Tuesday night and thought it humorless. Now in seeing the clip about full retard, I find it insulting, degrading and demoralizing to anyone who has a child, grandchild or family member with a disability. The studio must have known how insulting that clip would be so they did not dare show it on TV in fear of losing revenue.
DreamWorks and its ignorant cast, writers and directors and producers need to stand up and take responsibility for their lack of compassion and understanding of anyone with a disability. The movie should be banned from theaters in whole, not just the full retard part. The movie sends out a message that it is not acceptable to be disabled and that is not acceptable to me.
Nancy Ladisky
August 6th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
While I enjoy a funny movie and understand and appreciate satire, as the mother of an 11 yr old boy who was born with Down Syndrome, I cringe every time I hear people use the word retard.
The issue that is missed by those who accuse us of over-reacting to the word is that it is used so often in a derogatory way as an insult to people who are not mentally retarded. So those who suggest that we should also demand studios to remove jokes about fat people, blonds,racial stereotypes and even (incredibly) cartoon pandas….sorry, it’s just not the same thing.
The word is used in a demeaning way to describe stupid behavior. My son may be mentally retarded, but he is not stupid. The connotation this word has is so negative and disrespectful to our children, and I hope that one day it goes the way of “mongoloid”. While the language used in this movie may not be intended to demean our children, it still does so by the repeated use of the word, and especially by the phrase “full retard” which, as a middle school teacher, I see quickly becoming a catch phrase.
That said, I am a believer in free speech, so they can put whatever they want in the movie, but please don’t insult our intelligence with the justification that it is mocking shallow actors. It is really disappointing to see this in a movie, and from Dreamworks, no less.
So in the end, I will simply not see this movie. I am curious to see what the people involved with this movie will have to say regarding the firestorm this has created. It is my hope that they will respond with courtesy and respect towards the disability community, but to be honest, I am not holding my breath.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Using the word “retard”is no less offensive than using the word “nigger” and we all know that such a use would NEVER be tolerated. Any use of this word needs to be removed!
August 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I think that the use of the word “retard” is so ridiculously unnecessary. It shows lack of maturity and offends a lot of people in the disability community. I cannot believe that DreamWorks would use the “R” word to promote a movie. Why would they even agree to produce the movie? Did they read the script? I would be embarassed!
Shame on them and shame on anyone who finds humor in that word. They need to do some more editing and remove those lines. I would like to hear DreamWorks comment on the use of these words and how they find it justifiable. Because it is not! They really should apologize.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Times have changed and the terminology as well. Words that refer to people or children with disabilities inappropriately hurt their feeling.These young and older individuals are as equal as quote other normal people are. They should not be labeled or called anything. If you know someone with a disability, whether mentally or physically, they are as God’s angels and should not be spoken of any differently. If you wonder why they are considered angels, it’s because they would never hurt anyone intentionally but we would.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I can’t stand how people casually toss around the word “retard”. My friends, family and co-workers all know how strongly I feel about it and will immediately apologize if they start to say it. This type of offensive language should not be used to portray people in movies. As a teacher of children with multiple disabilities, I am very disappointed and angered by the news about this film. I will share my upset with those I know and encourage them not to support the film.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
As a parent of a challenged child, I am disturbed that so many think it acceptable for the film industry to just put out whatever they want in the name of entertainment. TV, movies, radio — they all drive public perception. As long as we don’t object, anything will become acceptable.
While I have no problem laughing at my own stupidity, and the stupidity of my “normal” friends, we (my fiends and I) all are cognizant of being respectful of the challenges of those around us. It’s one thing to do something stupid because you had a moment, and laugh about it; it’s quite another to laugh at someone who doesn’t have those abilities and is trying to be the best they can be.
I’ve seen how kids treat other kids, and unfortunately, most parents aren’t teaching their kids respect for others. Instead, parents teach their sons and daughters poor sportsmanship and rudeness.
In addition, challenged kids have some of the biggest hearts and strongest spirits around. Those are the qualities that should be recognized! We should be building each other up, rather than tearing each other down. DreamWorks, and the actors, should be showing the positive side of the human spirit.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
My family and I are extremely disappointed that Dreamworks finds this as humorous entertainment. It is intolerably offensive. We are also saddened that Ben Stiller would agree to play a role that degrades a segment of the population, some of whom are unable to defend themselves. It is of the utmost poor taste and bad judgement on the part of all of those involved and we will spread the word through email and personal contacts to prevent anyone that we can from supporting this horrible so-called “comedy.”
August 6th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Mr. Stiller,
Would you say this?
“Once upon a time…. there was a n*****.”
Ouch!
So don’t use “retard” as a pejorative. You’re over the line.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I pray that you never find yourselves sat watching Lars Von Trier’s The Idiots, for I fear it may well give you a coronary.
Still, it’s great to see people rallying against banal causes. The fact that people take personal offence over the usage of such words speaks volumes for your character, far more than for those who wrote and star in this movie.
Nobody is calling you, or your kid, or your cat, or your whatever, a retard. Stop being such a bunch of knee-jerk reactionaries. Or can I not call you that either?
I bet you’re the same hypocrites who swelled Dreamworks coffers by going to see Kung Fu Panda, without once sparing a thought that it might be offensive to pandas by suggesting they’re fat and lazy. Yet you don’t see pandas whipping up a batch of moral outrage, do you?
Who says they’re not smarter than us.
August 6th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
In this day and age I can’t believe that people would find humor in even saying the word “retard”. I used to like Ben Stiller, not anymore. I will not watch anymore of his films. Making fun of educationally challenged people really shows the depravity of the film makers, the actors, and DreamWorks.
August 6th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Sadly, I will never see another movie Ben Stiller is in or is a part of. Tom Cruise with all of his “holier than thou” attitude does a cameo? Unbelievable. God help the member of his family who gets depression or has a child born with a cognitive disability. Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black are two names I haven’t been impressed with before, I certainly am not now.
I am totally disappointed in DreamWorks/Paramount. I will not support them or their advertisers in the future.
August 6th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
As the grandmother of a wonderful child with Down syndrome, I’m totally appalled that this movie could even be made. We are so politically correct about everything else! I applaud your efforts to confront DreamWorks and speak up for those with disabilities.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I think the people at DreamWorks should go talk to Gene Stallings, who lost his son John Mark Stallings last week.
Gene Stallings was a head coach at the University of Alabama. His son had Down syndrome.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I find it hard to believe that Hollywood finds this acceptable. Don Imus was fired from his job for racial slurs. The fact that society doesn’t feel that this is equal to if not more offensive, is just another example of how people with developmental disabilities are given no thought or respect.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
If anything, I think Paramount/Dreamworks should fund a support group for people who are offended by other people being too easily offended. Let’s face it: this is an R-rated comedy we’re talking about here. And while I appreciate the attempts to censor the entertainment industry, any strong push to get this whole thing into the limelight will only boost ticket sales.
I hate (should we remove “hate” from our language as well?) to say it, but way to go retards.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Oh my god. No wonder this country is in shambles. Everyone is too busy being “PC” to have “IQ.”
Should Warner Bros pull all the cartoons with the dog character who bumbles “Wheredidhego, George?” Let’s cut Sloth right out of Goonies, and “What’s wrong with Gilbert Grape?” comes back edited so nothing the disabled kid does is construed as funny.
While we are at it? Let’s take out all the Fat jokes, the God jokes, the Blond jokes, the Golf jokes, the Men jokes, the Women jokes etc. It’s not about right and wrong, it’s about taste and censorship. No one is going to see this movie and go beat up a disabled kid, so all of you: Stop your whining. You leave in a free country {for the time being} so deal with the price of freedom and exercise your right to not go to the movie!! It’s not like it’s mandatory viewing at all schools. It’s a movie!! With a non G rating, Get a hold of yourself.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
The Tropic Thunder movie is so despicable
and disgusting because it offends other citizens
and me with disabilities. Tropic Thunder should
not come out on big screen. I am against the movie.
I hope a majority of people boycott the Tropic
Thunder movie.
Roberta Gallant
Concord, New Hampshire
August 6th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I am the mother of a beautiful 3-year-old with Down syndrome. I am saddened that someone as talented as Ben Stiller has to resort to demeaning people with special needs to get a laugh and sell a movie. And yes, for those of you who think that we shouldn’t be making a big deal, it is demeaning.
Let’s says for argument’s sake that I am not a person with special needs. I decide to foolishly go over to a rabid dog and start teasing it and the dog bites me. My friend says, “Dude, you’re such a retard.” What my friend is essentially saying is that people with special needs are foolish and do stupid things and he is comparing me to them.
Retard is a word that was assigned to people with cognitive disabilities by the medical profession decades ago because in the dictionary, retarded means “slow.” People with cognitive disabilities do learn and understand; it usually just takes a little longer than what is deemed “normal” by our perfection-obsessed society.
So it is a big deal when a popular actor like Ben Stiller and a well-respected production company like DreamWorks use the R-word for a few laughs. By using the word retard in their movie as a punchline, they are sending the message that it is okay to use that word in mainstream America.
I mean, what are they going to do? Put a disclaimer after the closing credits that says, “We can use the word retard in our movie but please refrain from using it in your daily lives. Thank you.”
August 6th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Sojourner Truth made this point at a feminist convention: “They talk about this thing in the head; what do they call it? [“Intellect,” whispered someone nearby.] That’s it. What’s that got to do with women’s rights or Negroes’ rights? If my cup won’t hold but a pint and yours holds a quart, wouldn’t you be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?”
So how far have we really come that we need this reminder that all people — all people — are equal. Be it African Americans or women or people with disabilities, cognitive or not — we are all a part of this place we call the USA, and we deserve to be treated with the same respect and basic human rights.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Surely the people at Paramount/Dreamworks cannot be so short on writers with a sense of humor that they have to resort to hiring some that demean and degrade people with intellectual disabilities.
Lets be frank about it, the R word is just as offensive as any other racial, ethnic or religious slur, except the word is used to target a group of people that cannot defend themselves the way others can.
It absolutely confounds me that in this day and age, where people are indeed sensitive about making other kinds of slurs, that it is still acceptable, or worse, funny, to make fun of disabled people. I’m disgusted with Paramount/Dreamworks, Stiller and everyone affiliated with this film.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
DreamWorks and Ben Stiller should apologize. Being disabled is not stupid. Although difficult at times, it is a way of life that God has chosen. No one deserves to be called stupid. Boycott the movie.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Although I understand that this is ‘artistic license’ and it is meant in fun for comedy’s sake, I do not agree that peole are being overly sensitive to this term (retard).
Many years ago our culture decided that words that implied negative connotations with regard to our black population should not be used even in ‘fun’ in movies or TV. Although the words still exist, we rarely hear them even in polite society. Words to describe those with physical disabilities, such as ‘cripple,’ are also rarely used.
Why do we feel it’s ‘funny’ to stigmatize a population of people? In the past 35 years we have seen the benefit of educating our children with disabilities. No longer are they hidden away, but rather they are expected to become part of our functional society.
Through our zero tolerance clauses in many elementary schools, we are teaching our children to be caring and tolerant of diversity. By allowing this type of ‘entertainment’ are we teaching our children that there is a double standard? It’s OK to be cruel as long as it’s in a certain context?
Children learn what is acceptable in society by what they see. Is this what we want them to see as acceptable?
August 6th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
You know, I bet that if you lot had been around when books like “Of Mice And Men” or “Flowers For Algernon” (on which the movie “Charly” was based) were being written, they never would have seen the light of day.
Why?
Because you idiots would likely have found them objectionable, simply because both books had a retard as a main character.
Granted, you have the right to your opinion, and I’d defend your right to have that opinion to the death. But keep this in mind: I have just as much right to disagree with you, and I do.
(Personally, I’m not too thrilled about “Tropic Thunder,” but not because of the whole retard issue — I’ve seen the previews, and the movie looks like utter garbage.)
August 6th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Why don’t we take a stand on something important? How about we all get together to end the war … or to feed starving children … or to … get the word “retard” excised from our lexicon!
Yeah … that will make the world a better place.
Come on.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:49 am
It sickens me to hear of what’s happening in our world today. People just don’t care anymore. More time, money and effort should be spent in teaching children with disabilities to enjoy life instead of making fun of them. This is selfish…but as they say “what goes around comes around.”
August 6th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Perhaps we could consider taking our responsibility boot off the neck of the media. Or cramming one portion of society’s ideas down the throat of another portion’s.
No one seems to have mentioned that Robert Downey Jr. is a Caucasian actor playing a Caucasian actor portraying a Black character. I don’t think Paramount and DreamWorks are unaware of that element of the film.
We allow immaturity by not being willing to be teachers in every moment — not just when it is a cause others will back. We need to be just as willing to work with the media leaders and creative personnel to mature into sensitivity, after the fact.
Trying to lump all 50 million disabled people and their supporters into an angry mob is as inauthentic as this movie is based on any reality.
Everyone needs to be a lot more individually courageous. It is just as much EACH PERSON’S task to speak up. And we need to teach our children, no matter what capabilities, to act and speak for themselves.
Individuals are going to be ignorant of the way in which you prefer language be used around you or your loved ones every day. Better we teach by example.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:24 am
“I love retards.” Direct quote from Something about Mary.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Shame on the movie executives who would even consider allowing this movie to be released. I have been in the business of advocating for people with disabilities for twenty-one years.
I have given my speech as to why the “R” word is horrible more times then I can count.
I feel as if the efforts are in vain. The “R” word is thrown out on TV and movies so often. If people were using the “N” word it would be stopped.
Why aren’t people with disabilities treated with the same respect? Did these people ask to be born into this insenisitve world? NO! I will be sure