They Might Be Curly Giants!

Various disability groups in the US have been outraged by the repeated usage of the word ‘retard’ in the movie, Tropic Thunder. The DreamWorks movie, staring Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black, among others, is about a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie who are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.

Although the movie is a satire about Hollywood, the actors and the movie industry in general, there are scenes in the movie where being intellectually disabled, or ‘retarded’, is funny. A coalition of disability groups, led by Special Olympics, protested to DreamWorks and demanded that certain objectionable scenes be removed, but the studio refused to give in.

I understand parody and I can even laugh at certain stereotypes, eg. about my race or something, and I’m quite liberal when it comes to censorship but when an offensive and hurtful word such as ‘retard’ is used repeatedly such as the case in this movie, it’s crossing the line between parody and downright offensive behaviour, which is disappointing because I like Ben Stiller’s movies before this one. And it’s even more disappointing to know Ben Stiller gave up his time to do a television special in 2006 to raise funds for people with autism.

Sure, some parts of Tropic Thunder is actually funny. I’ve seen the trailer and there are some funny lines in it, but portraying people with disabilities as a joke is cruel.

The Special Olympics-led coalition has issued a protest statement on its website, part of which reads:

Declare that under the guise of “parody,” whether intentional or not, Tropic Thunder demeans, insults, and harms individuals with intellectual disabilities by using the “R- word.” Furthermore, it perpetuates derogatory images and stereotypes of individuals with intellectual disabilities including mocking their physical appearance and speech, supports the continuation of inappropriate myths and misperceptions, and legitimizes painful discrimination, exclusion, and bullying;

TOGETHER, we declare our intention to make the public aware of the need to create and foster inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities as a matter of social justice by:

* Boycotting the film and explaining to our nation’s children why the film is harmful;
* Educating the public, especially young people, about intellectual disabilities through far-reaching awareness campaigns to ban the use of the “R-word,” and other initiatives to permanently change attitudes and promote inclusion;
* Calling on Hollywood studios, writers and executives to pledge to make this the final chapter in a sullied history of demeaning portrayals of individuals with intellectual disabilities and assist in public education campaigns; and
* Requesting that Congress investigate and conduct oversight of how Hollywood portrays individuals with intellectual disabilities and the effect these portrayals have on our nation and around the world.

Detailed facts about why the movie is so offensive can be found here.

Do your part. Even if you’re not planning to boycott the movie, understand that contrary to the saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”, derogatory and offensive words such as ‘retard’ do hurt. People with disabilities need our understanding and support. Throwing the R-word around and making it seem funny isn’t nice. At all.

Support the cause here.