Local protests held in response to ‘Tropic Thunder’
August 14th, 2008(Video from the Hartford Courant)
Local disability advocates protested last night in various places against the nationwide release of the summer comedy “Tropic Thunder,” citing concerns about the repeated use of the term “retard” and the “Simple Jack” subplot, a satirical portrayal of a farmhand with an intellectual disability.
As part of the protests, the Special Olympics and other leading disability groups have started a national campaign to eliminate what they call “the r-word”. An excerpt from the site:
The r-word is hate speech that perpetuates the negative stereotypes that face people with intellectual disabilities every day. Yet, its use continues to gain in popularity….
For more nationwide coverage:
- LIers protest ‘Tropic Thunder’ over ‘hurtful’ word — Newsday (New York
- Protesters decry ‘Tropic Thunder’ in Vermont — Boston Globe and Protesters decry ‘Tropic Thunder’ characterizations — Times Argus (Vermont)
- Words Such As ‘Retarded’ In Movie ‘Tropic Thunder’ Draw Protests — The Hartford Courant (Connecticut) and Movie irks Down Syndrome Congress — Middletown Press (Connecticut)
- Protestors aim anger at war farce — Baltimore Sun (Maryland)
- Access Atlanta Blog: Locals protest R-word in ‘Tropic Thunder’ — Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia)
- A Premiere Protest — [Long Beach] Press-Telegram (California)
- ‘Tropic Thunder’ protest comes to Delaware — The News Journal (Delaware)
- Tropic Thunder’ draws a storm of protest — The [Cincinnati] Enquirer (Ohio)
- Parents, advocates protest ‘Tropic Thunder’ in Brooklyn — Sun News:The Plain Dealer (Ohio)
- Movie draws local criticism — The Post and Courier (South Carolina)
- Letter of the day: ‘Tropic Thunder’ isn’t funny; it’s hurtful — Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune (Minnesota)
- Advocates protesting new movie — Altoona Mirror (Pennsylvania)
- ‘Thunder’ comedy falls flat with some — The Morning Call (Pennsylvania)
- Protests hit ‘Thunder’ premiere — The Arizona Republic (Arizona)
- Movie panned as crass, insensitive — Cape Cod Times (Massachusetts)
- Younger Kennedys protest ‘Tropic Thunder’ at mall cinemas — Cape Cod Today (Massachusetts)
- Letter: Change offensive R-word to ‘ridiculous’ — Courier-Journal (Kentucky)
- Protesters silently picket new comedy — Tuscaloosa News (Alabama)
- Advocates say this comedy nothing to laugh at — Times Union (New York)
See earlier post here.
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on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 at 7:09 am and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, Tropic Thunder, advocacy, intellectual/developmental disabilities, movies, public attitudes.
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August 14th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Im just thinking about it, but if we as a society were to take all the words in our vocabulary that are offensive, deragatory, sluring words, or just plain mean out of our vocabulary.
WOULD THERE EVEN BE COMEDY????? Seriously would you watch TV, if there weren’t anymore peopel getting made fun of on your favorite sitcom. What about stand-up comedians, how in the world would they have jobs? What about your late night cable TV show hosts? They for sure would be out of work. And if we did take away from our vocabulary these words, do you think that after time we would just come up with another word to describe a group of people, or what you just did in the bathroom… I mean come people this is a cycle of pointlessness that is never going to end.
Really, think about it I’m sure that when you were kids going through school, you would come up with names for your teachers that you didn’t care for. I will also take a bet that no matter what word it was when you or your friend used this word you both knew exactly what you were each talking about, or who you were talking about.
I guess I am just saying that tomorrow it will just be a different word that everyone is wanting to get rid of.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Patricia — great work here. Ben Stiller didn’t just spoof Hollywood with his film. He purposefully coined a phrase for merchandising that demeans people with intellectual disabilities. “What so ever you do” to the those among us least able to defend themselves shows your true character. I’ve met those of you who throw retard around with a laugh. I’ve met your kids. I know your character. I am not impressed.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:30 am
I was at the protest in Middletown, CT, lol! I was interviewed by another newstation, WTNH. Here’s a link to it… http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=8837867
August 14th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I saw something on the TV about people making fun of people like my sister. That really hurts me to think that people think my sister is stupid and they can make fun of her. Like she isn’t human. No one has the right to make fun of ANYONE like that. We hope and pray for miracles everyday for people to be accepted and included and for someone to just laugh at her and think she is stupid is wrong.