I know many of my readers wouldn’t consider going to the movie Tropic Thunder simply because of the R rating, given for “pervasive language including sexual references, violent content and drug material,” but I would like to suggest another reason to refrain from attending this movie and to encourage others to do the same – the R word.
It may seem funny or satirical or edgy to Mr. Stiller and his associates, but that doesn’t matter – it’s just not okay. And the effects are already being seen, as evidenced by this Open Letter to Mr. Stiller written by Dave Hingsburger of Chewing the Fat.
If you need more convincing or want to know how to take action and make your voice heard, read these:
- Once Upon A Time There Was A Retard…
- Insensitive Hollywood People Thought It Felt Right to Use Hate Words Against People Living with Disabilities
- Words Hurt: The “R” Word
Ban the “R” Word
A grass roots effort, The “r” Word Campaign was started by Rick & Wanda Felty of Norman, Oklahoma. Click here for the button code. Here is a statement from their website:
Some people have mental retardation. While mental retardation is not a bad word, when used to describe someone or something you think is bad it becomes another thoughtless hurtful word. People with mental retardation are not bad, their condition is not bad, the prejudice and discrimination to people with mental retardation is BAD…and WRONG! Please stop using the word ‘retard’, it hurts people with disabilities.
So what else can you do?
I think Timothy Shriver (chairman of Special Olympics) says it best in his article What ‘Tropic Thunder’ Thinks Is 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.
Respectfully submitted,
I'm a mom with Asperger's raising an amazing son with autism, which means I'm basically the case manager/advocate/cheerleader/chauffeur. The rest of the time, you can usually find me with my nose in a book!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree–this is incomprehensibly insensitive.
On another note, I tagged you for a meme that might lighten your mood.
Or so I hope.
I agree–this is incomprehensibly insensitive.
On another note, I tagged you for a meme that might lighten your mood.
Or so I hope.
I totally agree and am sadden to see it still is going on and publicized in a major movie.
I totally agree and am sadden to see it still is going on and publicized in a major movie.
Excellent post! Thanks so much!
Excellent post! Thanks so much!
The cure for ignorance and prejudice is information. People can educate themselves about autism by listening to the free Midnight In Chicago audio podcasts at http://www.mic.mypodcast.com. By understanding what autism is and how it works, they will be less likely to call people with autism “retards” and be more likely to respect them.
The cure for ignorance and prejudice is information. People can educate themselves about autism by listening to the free Midnight In Chicago audio podcasts at http://www.mic.mypodcast.com. By understanding what autism is and how it works, they will be less likely to call people with autism “retards” and be more likely to respect them.
I am ashamed to say that I have a habit of (disgustingly) using this word to describe objects or actions just in my every day conversation. I don’t know if it is something from my generation…but I DO know that there is no excuse for it. It’s hurtful and comes just sounds like pure ignorance coming out of someone’s mouth (like my own). I really appreciated this post.
I am ashamed to say that I have a habit of (disgustingly) using this word to describe objects or actions just in my every day conversation. I don’t know if it is something from my generation…but I DO know that there is no excuse for it. It’s hurtful and comes just sounds like pure ignorance coming out of someone’s mouth (like my own). I really appreciated this post.