I’m certain Steven Spielberg, founder of DreamWorks (parent company that produced “Tropic Thunder”) knows well why an organization like this is important to protect a vulnerable population.

Perhaps it would be helpful to remind DreamWorks execs that the mass-killing methods of WWII were first used and fine-tuned on people with disabilities? Perhaps they could be reminded that unquestioned language — racial slurs –and powerful caricatures were used to devalue an ethnic group to allow for genocide? Perhaps they need to be reminded that we share this history?

Slanderous language and demeaning caricatures contributing to society’s devaluation of a vulnerable group isn’t *theory*. We have our Matthew Shepherd in Brent Martin and Ashley Clark. Last November brought news of ghastly abuse in Serbia: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21790870/

In June 2007, American soldiers discovered how orphanages for disabled children are run in Iraq:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/soldiers-uncover-abuse-at-iraq-orphanage/2007/06/20/1182019166368.html

And powerful, divisive rhetoric wasn’t even required for our brothers and sisters with disabilities to be carried away to their deaths in WWII — it was overt and unquestioned. We always have to work hard to remind society how our loved ones should be valued.

Rightly so, our society works hard to prevent the devaluing of ethnic groups and we all are asked to “never forget.”

Have they forgotten us?

It is only right for DreamWorks to give seed money for this organization as recompense for profiting from unquestioned hate in the form of stereotyping and devaluing our loved ones.

Never forget.