The r word on the big screen

Terri asks what the disability community can do about the movie Tropic Thunder. She writes that the movie

...bandies the R-word all over the place and describes the experience of having an intellectual disability as being “moronic, stupid, dumb and imbecilic.” This movie is geared toward teenage boys and has big-time actors. This characterization is buried in lots of crazy antics that teenage boys love. Do you think these young guys will pause and ask themselves, “Is this really an accurate portrayal of intellectual disability?” I don’t.
I think they will carry on the tradition of misjudgment and mistreatment of people with disabilities—including their peer, my daughter. Then she too can have stories to tell that will make you sick.
The movie Tropic Thunder... is scheduled to be released next week. A coalition of disability groups and self-advocates is meeting with Dreamworks studios today. I am very pleased by the response of our national organizations and I think they should be backed up by a nation full of local responses.

Go on over to her blog and read more.

Dave is making up cards that say Words Hit Like A Fist on the use of the word "retard":

Along with my agency, my executive director, I decided to do something. I sat down and crafted a business card. On one side it read: Words hit like a fist! On the other side it says:When you use words like “R#tard” or “R#tarded” it hurts people, I heard you and it hurt me. Many people with disabilities consider “R#tard” the most offensive word referring to disability. I agree. Bigots use negative terms for minorities. R#tard is the same, it’s hate speech used by bigots. Consider carefully your words in the future.Because…Words Hit, Hard As a Fist. So, JUST STOP IT.


What it's about is how people think - about disability. Dreamworks will be meeting with advocates today to discuss issues around the character of "Simple Jack" and the use of the word "retard". Represented groups include the National Down Syndrome Congress and the Special Olympics.

Patricia Bauer has posted some of the offensive language used in the movie in this post Never Go Full Retard and a clip of that scene containing the use of the word "retard" can be seen below.


She also reports this morning that a promo for the film has been pulled by the studio.