The movie “Tropic Thunder”, now being called Tropic Blunder by thousands of parents, professionals and community members that oppose the movies catch phrase, “Never go full retard”, is the latest example of how our society allows the degradation those with disabilities.
My email inbox is overflowing with protests, calls for action and a boycott of the film and its maker, Dream Works, because of the catch phrase and repeated use of the r-word.
I debated for quite some time before I decided to type out the r-word in the opening paragraph. I chose to do so to ensure that readers of this piece will be aware of the phrase they will soon see on T-shirts (already in print).
I won’t give a review of the movie (which is a sideways promotion), but will say it’s a comedy receiving rave reviews by critics and further attention because of the protests.
The most common complaint is obvious; the r-word is used repeatedly to humiliate people with disabilities. To be fair, let me add the film also degrades and stereotypes other groups of people, but the focus is on those with intellectual disabilities.
We need to stop for a second and understand Why this so dangerous.
The movie targets people ages 18-20 (or so Dream Works claims), but we know that people 13-30 years old are going to see it, and they will undoubtedly leave remembering the catch-phrase of the film.
They will also remember the many ways to use it, the many people the movie applied the stereotype to, and the phrase will ultimately be used to hurt, humiliate and degrade people with disabilities; like our children.
I wonder if schools will ban the T-Shirts.
I wonder how many parents will agree with those that say,”get over it. It’s satire and only a joke”, by allowing their children to see this movie.
I wonder how many theaters will choose to not show the film; to choose people over profits.
I also wonder how many people, particularly those that do not have ‘disability’ in their daily life, even understand the impact of this.
What do you think?
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