[kj] OT Boycott the film Tropic Thunder

[cliffmonka at alaska.net]

Hiya ok here's a tv news story and daily news article from the protest boycotting
the film Tropic Thunder we did on saturday,Peace,Cliff

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=8853261

http://www.adn.com/arts/story/496381.html



> http://www.adn.com/arts/story/496381.html

>

>

>> Terrific article by Tim Shriver...

>>

>>

>>

>> *What 'Tropic Thunder' Thinks Is Funny*

>> By Timothy Shriver

>> Monday, August 11, 2008; A15

>>

>> I've been told = to keep my sense of humor about the film "Tropic Thunder,"

>> which opens = this week. Despite my requests, I have not been given the chance

>> to see = the movie. But I've seen previews, read about it and read excerpts = of

>> the script. By all accounts, it is an unchecked assault on the = humanity of

>> people with intellectual disabilities -- an affront to = dignity, hope and

>> respect.

>>

>> Consider this exchange:

>>

>> Ben = Stiller's character: "There were times when I was doing Jack when = I

>> actually felt retarded. Like really retarded."

>>

>> Robert Downey = Jr.'s character: "Oh yeah. Damn."

>>

>> Stiller: "In a weird way, I had = to sort of just free myself up to believe

>> that it was okay to be stupid = or dumb."

>>

>> Downey: "To be a moron."

>>

>> Stiller: "Yeah."

>>

>> At= another point, about acting like a person with intellectual disabilities,<=

>> BR>they say:

>>

>> Stiller: "It's what we do, right?"

>>

>> Downey: = "Everybody knows you never do a full retard."

>>

>> Stiller: "What do you = mean?"

>>

>> Downey: "Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man,' look = retarded, act

>> retarded, not retarded. Count toothpicks to your cards. = Autistic, sure. Not

>> retarded. You know Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump.' Slow, = yes. Retarded, maybe.

>> Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off = Nixon and won a ping-pong

>> competition. That ain't retarded. You went = full retard, man. Never go full

>> retard."

>>

>> I worked with the = Farrelly brothers on a film on this topic. I know about

>> edgy comedy. = I'm also told that movies are equal-opportunity offenders.

>>

>> So = here's an equal-opportunity response to the equal-opportunity offenders:

>> People with intellectual disabilities are routinely abused, neglected,=

>> insulted, institutionalized and even killed around the world. Their = parents

>> are told to give up, that their children are worthless. Schools = turn them

>> away. Doctors refuse to treat them. Employers won't hire = them. None of this

>> is funny.

>>

>> For centuries, they have been the = exception to the most basic spiritual

>> principle: that we are each equal = in spirit, capable of reflecting the

>> goodness of the divine, carriers = of love. But not people with intellectual

>> disabilities. What's a word = commonly applied to them? Hopeless.

>>

>> Let's consider where we are in = 2008. Our politics are about overcoming

>> division, our social movements = are about ending intolerance, our great

>> philanthropists promote ending = poverty and disease among the world's poor.

>> Are people with intellectual= disabilities included in the mainstream of

>> these movements? For the = most part, no.

>>

>> Why? Because they're different. Their joy doesn't = fit on magazine covers.

>> Their spirituality doesn't come in self-help = television. Their kind of

>> wealth doesn't command political attention. = (The best of the spirit never

>> does.)

>>

>> Sadly, they're such an easy = target that many people don't realize whom they

>> are making fun of when = they use the word "retard." Most people just think

>> it's funny. "Stupid, = idiot, moron, retard." Ha, ha, ha.

>>

>> I know: I could be too sensitive.= But I was taught that mean isn't funny.

>> And I've been to institutions = where people with intellectual disabilities

>> are tied to beds or lie on = concrete floors, forgotten. I've heard doctors

>> say they won't treat = them. I know Gallup found that more than 60 percent of

>> Americans don't = want a person with an intellectual disability at their

>> child's = school.

>>

>> I've talked to people with intellectual disabilities who = cry over being

>> insulted on a bus. I've received too many e-mails from = people who are

>> devastated not by their child's disability but by the = terror of being

>> laughed at, excluded and economically devastated.

>> It wasn't funny when Hollywood humiliated African Americans for a

>> gener= ation. It's never funny when good and decent human beings are

>> humiliated= . In fact, it is dangerous and disgusting.

>>

>> This film is all that = and more. DreamWorks went so far as to create a

>> mini-version of Simple = Jack and posted it online. The studio has since

>> pulled it down, = realizing it had gone too far, even in an age of edgy,

>> R-rated = comedies.

>>

>> So, enough. Stop the hurtful jokes. Talk to your children = about language

>> that is bullying and mean. Ask your friends, your = educators, your religious

>> leaders to help us to end the stubborn myth = that people with intellectual

>> disabilities are hopeless. Ask Hollywood = to get on the right side of

>> dignity.

>>

>> I hope others will join me = in shutting this movie out of our lives and our

>> pocketbooks. We don't = live in times when labeling and humiliating others is

>> funny. And we = should send that message far and wide.

>>

>> *The writer is chairman of = Special Olympics and a columnist for

>> washingtonpost.com's On Faith = discussion site.*

>>

>>

>>> It's received mostly good reviews:

>>>

>>> http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/tropicthunder

>>>

>>> That's a great website, btw.

>>>

>>> -Oliver

>>>

>>>

>>> folk devil wrote:

>>>> not sure i really want to....too many 'war' films...and a haha to bang

>>>> bang doesn't really work for me at the mo..

>>>>

>>>> /"/

>>>>

>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>> Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:42:20 -0700

>>>> From: saulomar1 at yahoo.com

>>>> To: gathering at misera.net

>>>> Subject: Re: [kj] OT Boycott the film Tropic Thunder

>>>>

>>>> Anyone seen the movie yet?

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> ... ... ... ... ... ...

>>>>

>>>> /*[looking at the current state of things]*/

>>>>

>>>> 'Save me...

>>>>   save me from Tomorrow..

>>>>    I don't want to /sail //in this Ship Of Fools...!'   /

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

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