Tim Shriver’s op-ed on ‘Tropic Thunder’
August 11th, 2008Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver writes in the Washington Post that he has not yet been permitted to see “Tropic Thunder.” But on the basis of previews, excerpts and written accounts, he concludes that the film is “an unchecked assault on the humanity of people with intellectual disabilities — an affront to dignity, hope and respect.”
Shriver objects to a world in which people with intellectual disabilities routinely face discrimination, abuse, insult and institutionalization, are denied medical treatment and excluded from social movements. He cites Gallup poll data that found most Americans don’t want a person with an intellectual disability in their child’s school.
The use of language, he says, perpetuates and amplifies the public view that these people are “hopeless.”
Sadly, they’re such an easy target that many people don’t realize whom they are making fun of when they use the word “retard.” Most people just think it’s funny. “Stupid, idiot, moron, retard.” Ha, ha, ha.
I know: I could be too sensitive. But I was taught that mean isn’t funny.
… So, enough. Stop the hurtful jokes. Talk to your children about language that is bullying and mean. Ask your friends, your educators, your religious leaders to help us to end the stubborn myth that people with intellectual disabilities are hopeless. Ask Hollywood to get on the right side of dignity.
I hope others will join me in shutting this movie out of our lives and our pocketbooks. We don’t live in times when labeling and humiliating others is funny. And we should send that message far and wide.
Related coverage:
- Advocates for disabled to protest ‘Tropic Thunder’ (Reuters)
- Rant: I’m boycotting political correctness (Slashfilm.com)
- Can Angry Disabled Groups Help ‘The Dark Knight’ Stay Alive at the Box Office? (New York Entertainment)
Earlier post: Tropic Thunder boycott expected
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August 18th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I have a brother who is challenged, yet I don’t take offense to this film. I understand the context in which it was intended. I do agree the the R word is ugly, but it is a reality in our world. D.W. Griffith’s film “Birth of a Nation” is extremely offensive and racist, but colleges all over the country show it for many different reasons. I do not believe that the writers of Tropic Thunder set out to hurt intellectually disabled people, and I believe that the majority of adults that see this movie know the difference between satire and hate speech. In addition, it has been shown that when a film causes a call for boycotts and controversy in the community, it often backfires and attracts more viewers. “The Last Temptation of Christ” is a perfect example.
August 14th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Tim is so right. Mean is not funny. I and my family will boycott Tropic Thunder.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:46 am
The protest has finally broken into the entertainment news section of my yahoo homepage. This is yahoo.ca I don’t know about the American one. I was beginning to think that no one would notice or care about the protest – but word is out.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:34 am
A boycott is a good first step, but it is not enough. I don’t think our population commands enough wealth — and no one actually expects to see us in places like theaters (or in schools, at work, or anywhere else actually.) Our absence will not be noticed.
How is staying home different for people with disabilities?
We need an active, visible presence in our communities over the next couple of weeks so that the message of that movie is not the only voice our communities hear about disability.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:34 am
I think a lot more people are going to have the same reaction to Simple Jack and ongoing “retard” gag as Tim Shiver did.
I can see the cartoon now of Ben Stiller standing on his Simple Jack soap box about “industry standard” which is collapsing under the weight of box office dollars.