Yes, I mean it...
Here is a short synopsis of why the movie "Tropic Thunder" is being hit by national disability activists (yes, and Moms and Dads too!) due to their use of the word "retard." The following information should offend you, but I was surprised at the extent of it and feel that if I DON'T post it, then the feeling that we are over reacting to something simple might not quite come across as it should...
The "full retard" scene between Stiller's Speedman and Robert Downey Jr.'s Kirk Lazarus is more extensive than the clip distributed on the internet. Among the lines not included in the Internet version: (ok, so I first had this in here without most of the *** and I just couldn't publish it like that. It was too much for me to post and I had to clean it up a bit.)
Stiller: You know, it was an intense experience, you know? I just did the work. I watched a lot of r*****ed people, spent time with them,observed them, watched all the r*****ed stuff they did ; In a weird way, I had to free myself up to believe that it was okay to be stupid or dumb. To be a moron. to be moronical. To be a moron. To be an imbecile. To be the dumbest m***** f***** that ever lived; Stupid a** Jack.
Stiller is made to re-enact Simple Jack to entertain his captors, and dons a coconut wig, improvised overalls and borrowed dentures to act the part. When he doesn't perform the way they like, they hit him and say "more stupid."
Offended? You should be... and maybe you can pass the word to more so they can realize that this isn't a satirical comedy made to poke a little fun. No, it's offensive and if you substituted any race or nationality instead of it being pointed at the disabled, it would be considered a HATE CRIME.
Meredith, this UGLY movie tropic thunder is offensive, cruel, and is a HATE CRIME/HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Merideth!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this.
This just infuriates me! That they could be so cruel to so many innocent people.
ReplyDeleteCindi
Can I plagerize? :)
ReplyDeletei've read about that... and commented about my disapproval.
ReplyDeletequestion though... is SAYING something like that a hate crime even if it IS towards a race, religion, etc.? i'm not saying whether or not it should be... i'm just wondering... because in this country, i believe that "free speech" means you can say you hate people based on those things. NOT that it's right, but isn't it legal because of free speech?
(and again... i've told you how much you & your kiddos have inspired me... i'm just asking.)
I'm way late commenting on this, but this was a hideous thing for people to have accepted as "pop culture".
ReplyDeleteI'm an adult with severe bipolar. IT's well controlled now and I work in healthcare in a supervisory role. I still have some issues, but nobody can immediately tell anymoe. Some of the things it affects though are my cognitive abilities.
A few weeks ago a nurse was frustrated with another staff member (who has learning disabilities) and told me "the only reason to hire the handicapped is so you can laugh at them".
It's the worst thing I've ever heard anyone say, and it's things like this stupid movie that make people thing they still can say them.
Just Me
www.masterofirony.blogspot.com