Tropic Thunder Protests Grow

The deserved furor is growing against the degrading movie Tropic Thunder. Click here and here for more information and how to participate in the national protest against this movie. Here is a pledge against the use of the 'r' word.

Comments

[ScottJ]

I'm as quick to anger over degradation and mischaracterization as the next guy, but really! It's a MOVIE.

Did people get this worked up over "Forrest Gump" or "Sling Blade"?

[Sandy Alperstein]

I respectfully disagree - these days, a movie is NOT just a movie. It's a series of promotional items, slogans and catch-phrases that can and most definitely WILL make their way into our schools and into our kids' lives. That's the real concern here, and I believe that concern is very valid, especially given the target audience of this movie is adolescent kids (who, as we all know, can be thoughtless and even mean at times). (I know the movie is rated R, but as the mom of two adolescents, I know they and their friends watch many R-rated movies.)

[HeidiH]

I agree with ScottJ and disagree entirely with SandyA. This is NOT an organized scheme to discriminate against the disabled. It's a movie. It is fiction. I'm the parent of one autistic child, and the child of a grand mal epileptic and just one of my three kids is YET to be in therapy for something, but the good Lord help us if we stop being able to laugh at ourselves and others too. Ever see "There's Something About Mary". One of my personal faves. Franks and Beans. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. I'm beginning to wonder too if you can't even use the "r" word properly for fear using it would cause a reprisal of some sort... in example "Because of the challenges she faced raising a Special Ed student stressed her resulting sense of humor was retarded'. As in stumped. Under-realized. A movie IS a movie. First of all, little kids don't need to be at a Ben Stiller movie if it's not Night at the Museum. Secondly, you don't HAVE to allow your kids to watch R rated movies, and third, why not use it as an example when imploring your children to follow your own moral compass. I guess your kids missed "The Ringer" too? Good grief. There are far more things out there that deserve to be squashed. Humor is NOT one of them. If you don't like it, don't buy it or change the channel and Viva La Diference!

[nicole LEBLANC]

STOP USING THE R-WORD AND USING BAD MANNERS WHEN REFERING TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILTIES!!!!!!!!!! IT IS OFFENSIVE AND THE R-WORD EATS AT OUR CORE!!!!!!!!!
THE R WORD SHOULD BE A HATE CRIME