Op-eds, letters, coverage of ‘Tropic Thunder’
August 16th, 2008From various sources:
Op-ed: No excuse for the R-word — The Dallas Morning News. Wayne Carter, an editor for the newspaper’s website, says thoughtless use of insulting language jeopardizes the public’s acceptance of people like his son, who has Down syndrome. Carter is particularly troubled by recent estimates of a 90 percent abortion rate in cases of Down syndrome.
An excerpt:
So this is about more than hurt feelings. This is about the place the mentally challenged hold in our society. What does the future hold for our son in a world where so many people, if the choice had been theirs, would have killed him before he was born?
On a post on our movies blog about the controversy, a reader commented that nobody has a sense of humor anymore. I responded that I have a sense of humor, I get the intent. But as the father of a child with Down syndrome, I have a hard time swallowing the use of that word in any context. Another reader responded to my comment with this advice: “Wayne, The world ain’t gonna change on your account.”
Well, may be it won’t, not on my account or that of any of the people with whom I stand on this. But we can’t let it be so because we didn’t try.
Op-ed: Dad of youth with disabilities says controversy is overblown — Writing in the Chicago Tribune, David Greising says the word “retard” can’t be compared to the word “nigger.” To do so is to “cheapen the treachery” of the racial slur, he says. Greising’s 18-year-old son Wes has disabilities and cannot speak.
When I heard Downey use the word “retard” in the movie, I felt he was on Wes’ side, not making fun of him. And just for the record—for those who say children with disabilities might be ridiculed because of this movie—never in Wes’ life have we heard that he was made the object of ridicule. Our society has matured since a generation ago, when my boyhood friends and I heartlessly felt “retarded” kids might be the butt of jokes.
… The filmmakers knew precisely what they were doing with the word “retarded.” They used it well. They aimed their satire at Hollywood, and perhaps even at our simplistic understanding of people with disabilities.
If the boycotters think it through, perhaps even they will start to catch the joke
Op-ed: Lodging a complaint on political correctness — Andrew Lisa in the [Vineland, NJ] Daily Journal
Intellectual disabilities?
Listen, words like “retard” are crude and mean, and if you make fun of people with disabilities, you’re an idiot.
But how much can I be expected to remember?
Disabilities group wants ‘Tropic Thunder’ canned — Daytona [FL] News-Journal. Movie theater owners say they’d like to pull “Tropic Thunder,” but to do so would jeopardize their contracts.
Articles:
- Movie’s jokes not so funny to group — Detroit Free Press
- Local family joins protest of ‘Tropic Thunder’ — [Spokane, WA] Spokesman Review
- Review: Yes, ‘Tropic Thunder’ offends. That’s the point — Arizona Republic
- Advocates protest ‘hate speech’ in movie – Milford [MA] Daily News
- Letter: Hurtful movie — Chicago Tribune
- Letter: Movie hurts battle to end negative stereotypes — Chicago Tribune
- Letter: Insensitive film fosters intolerance — The Times [Trenton, NJ]
- Letter: Offensive movie deserves boycott — Springfield [MO] News-Leader
- Letter: Movie mocks, pokes fun at people with disabilities — Ottumwa, Iowa, Courier
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on Saturday, August 16th, 2008 at 9:01 am and is filed under Down syndrome, NOT2BEMISSED, Tropic Thunder, business, celebrities, commentary, inclusion, language, movies.
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August 16th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I admit it, I loved Tropic Thunder, and occasionally I call someone a moron, an idiot, and even a retard. I feel badly after reading your column about your daughter, for a few reasons. But I do want to point something out, and I can only speak for myself here: When I use these words, I am not being literal and referring to someone who is handicapped. I’m not referring to someone with Down Syndrome. People I have met with Down Syndrome are, often times, emotionally superior and more perceptive to the rest of us. They are certainly not inferior, as you know. When I say “idiot,” I mean a person who is choosing not using the brain that they have. Now, this all might sound ridiculous to you. You might think, um, hello, retard means retarded, and you’re right. But sometimes words evolve into something else…is it not okay to say idiot? Or moron? What should we say? Nothing? Maybe we should just say “asshole.” Seriously.
Also, the Simple Jack thing in TT did make me uncomfortable. It was not the strongest part of the movie, for sure. But it was making fun of actors trying to get Oscars by playing handicapped people. If anyone should be offended, it should be actors. That said, I feel awful that your daughter heard someone call her a “retard,” and I hope it never, ever happens again. And I will try to grow up and stop saying it.
Thank you,
JHL, NYC