Letters to the Editor — Aug. 22

Published 10:06 am Saturday, August 23, 2008

To the Editor:



By now you may be aware of the controversy surrounding the liberal uses of the “R” word in the movie Tropic Thunder in release throughout the country. Over the last week there have been many emails traveling back and forth about the subject matter of the film and every time I have read one, it has caused me concern. Our nation has grown a great deal over the last 50 years, but it seems that some people in the “entertainment” industry still believe that it is acceptable to make a profit by making fun of others. Today’s average comedy on the television or movie screen is filled with scenes that make fun of the behavior, words, expressions or appearance of someone else. At the end of the day, the viewer is not entertained as much as he (or she) is relieved that the ridicule is not directed at them. This film has the goal of carrying this to a new extreme and I think the American public is smarter than that.

The Arc of the United States, the Arc of Florida, Special Olympics, the National Association for People with Disabilities, and many other disabilities advocacy organizations have launched a call to boycott the movie for its patently offensive use of the word “retard” and other demeaning portrayals of people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities by actor Ben Stiller in the movie.

John Askew, CEO of an agency that is similar to CCS, summed it up pretty well for me when he said “What is in a word? While the use of the term ‘retarded’ was in vogue many years ago (and still may be used by many Arc chapters in the country) we have come a long way in refining words that accent the fact that people are people first…and not defined by a disability they may have. We recognize that old habits are hard to break but every effort has been made to regard people as people. I would be saddened and appalled if moviegoers who see Tropic Thunder might find the offensive references as humor at the expense of people with disabilities. Had the “R” word been another label based on race there would have been a huge public outcry…or the writers, directors and producers might have not made that epithet a central part of the movie plot. Laughing at people with disabilities is not the American way! No movie doing so should be patronized. A laugh at the expense of the most fragile and vulnerable among us is just too low to even consider!”

CCS was founded by parents with the purpose of advocating for children and adults in the community with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Our mission has not changed in over 26 years and we are thankful for the many citizens in the cities and counties where we operate who share that same vision. It is through our combined voices that injustice will change for the future. Together, we can make a difference!



Bobbie Lake

Executive Director

Comprehensive Community Services, Inc.

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