Posted on 08/14/2008 5:48:37 AM PDT by Puppage
(WTNH) -- The new comedy film "Tropic Thunder" is no laughing matter to champions of the intellectually disabled. They've called for a boycott of the movie.
Cecily Quincy's son Cory is almost 3-years-old. He's full of energy, loves to laugh and enjoys playing with his older brother and younger sister.
Cory has Down Syndrome and Quincy feels a great responsibility to protect him. "We really want to make his world a better place," she said.
Quincy is a member of the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress, an advocacy and support group made up of parents, conducted by volunteers like Cecily and Jessica Heeran, 3-year-old Joseph's mom.
Together they are joining with other advocacy groups, protesting the new movie "Tropic Thunder" -- a Hollywood blockbuster which opened Wednesday.
What upsets them most is what they call the insensitive portrayal of the intellectually disabled and the repeated use of the word 'retard.'
"It kills me even to admit it, but before I had Joey, I would use that word occasionally and now, looking back, I regret it more than anything else in my whole life," Heeran said. "Knowing that I once said that word in that way."
In Tropic Thunder's movie-within-a-movie, actor Ben Stiller plays an actor who portrays a character with a disability.
On Good Morning America, Wednesday morning, Stiller (who also directed the film) says his intention is to make fun of Hollywood, not people with disabilities.
"In the context of the film, I really feel like it's really clear that we're making fun of actors and actors who try to use serious subjects to try to win awards," Stiller said. "It's about actors and self-importance."
But, protesters say it's about much more; it's about being respected and not being teased.
"I think I always feel sad all the time and including when someone actually tries to be really hurtful about it," Kirsten Saracino, of Burlington, said.
And it's about people like Cory Quincy. "It's community awareness," Quincy said. "To know that there are children and adults in your community that are just like you, just like your children. And, it's just the point of just meet them, just meet my son."
Holy Kum Bye Ya, Batman
They should be protesting the abortion undertaken by some European countries of like individuals.
Sounds like something out of “The Onion.”
Wah wah wah! Makes me want to go see the movie now!
People are very thin-skinned in this modern age. While I sympathize with the Moms, they need to realize that they have no right to try and control others behaviour.
Saw the movie last night. Don’t bother. A waste of money and much more importantly, a waste of time.
Ben Stiller?
In a movie that's a blockbuster?
Are these retards ever going to stop whining?
wow...I gotta see this movie now.
Dad gummit...I was afraid of that...thanks for the heads up!
I wonder why the don’t boycott Larry the Cable Guy? That is a standard shtick in his act and movies.
How come we are not given credit for being the least bit intelligent?
I have a mentally disabled cousin. I understand what they have to deal with. I can laugh at the word “retard” and still be empathetic to his condition and the stress it puts on the family.
People forget the word “context.”
Jeez....
And besides....the van hasn’t pulled up to the house with armed “You have to go see this movie” guy putting a gun to my head.
If you don’t want to see it. Leave.
“Something about Mary” also featured a mentally handicapped sibling.
One of Mary’s suitors actually tried to use “I love working with retards” as a line to get her sympathy.
I know “retard” is insensitive (and she said so in the movie), but can we still say that someone is
“libtarded”? IE, mentally handicapped by liberal ideology?
The main protester of this movie hasn’t even seen it...
“Can you believe Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, (that’s him up there underneath Simple Jack in the lower left) is making all this stink over Tropic Thunder and he hasn’t even seen it! “I’ve seen enough of it on TV and on the Internet,” he said. Did he torrent that shit? If so, lock his ass up and fine him”
from here
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942385/news#ni0550779
"In the context of the film, I really feel like it's really clear that we're making fun of actors and actors who try to use serious subjects to try to win awards," Stiller said. "It's about actors and self-importance."
Seems Ben should have expanded that to include self-appointed PC advocates, too...
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