Truemors
This piece is based on a commentary piece from Timothy Shriver of CNN, and is not necessarily my own views.
The controversy over Tropic Thunder continues to escalate today.
When protestors turned up the Los Angeles premiere of the film on Monday, they were protesting the portrayal of people of intelluctual disabilities in the film.
The film has a 'Simple Jack' subplot and uses the slogans, 'Once upon a time there was a retard' and 'Never go full retard'.
Members of the Coalition of National Disability Organizations -- disabled advocates and family members of people with intellectual disabilities -- have seen the movie and reported shock and disgust. Their reactions have resonated with many of us who take their cause and their voice with the utmost seriousness.
Dreamworks did meet with other minority groups depicted in the film, but not with any coalition surrounding the Special Olympics or any organization with disabilities.
Timothy Shriver has this to say:
Together with the members of the international coalition, I am asking Steven Spielberg, Stacey Snider, Ben Stiller and the entire "Tropic Thunder" team to stop showing the film, and asking movie theaters and moviegoers to shut this movie out. "Tropic Thunder" is a colossal blunder. Don't show or see "Tropic Thunder."
The degrading use of the word "retard" together with the broader humiliation of people with intellectual disabilities in the film goes way too far. When the R-word is casually bandied about and when bumbling, clueless caricatures designed to mimic the behavior of people with intellectual disabilities are on screen, they have an unmistakable outcome: They mock, directly or indirectly, people with intellectual disabilities. They perpetuate the worst stereotypes. They further exclusion and isolation. They are simply mean.
What do you think about this matter? Should the film be banned? Are you going to see it? Is this all just a big over-reaction?
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