Tropic Thunder's Retard Saved From Political Correctness

Comment on “Tropic Thunder's Retard Saved From Political Correctness”

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1. Volante Says:
   August 11th, 2008 at 03:34

   So the whole point of the r-word bit in Tropic Thunder is making fun of the Oscars for favoring ...mentally challenged characters.
   
   True story: I got What's Eating Gilbert Grape from Netflix one day. The blurb mentioned it was 'Oscar nominated.' I didn't know what for, but after watching it, I made a guess: DiCaprio for Best Supporting. He played, quote, "Gilbert's retarded brother."
   
   I'd say I was surprised that I was right, but I wasn't. Hollywood just has a long running history of favoring these characters. If you can't star in a biopic, a disabled character is the next best thing. Oscars have been going to mentally handicapped characters since John Mills in Ryan's Daughter.
   
   And that is the exact point of satire. To make fun of an established institution.

1. John Galt Says:
   August 11th, 2008 at 04:46

   Hey "Josh Tyler" ever think they were just being protective of their neck-stretching spawn? Nothing politically correct about that. Just human instinct.

1. Rand Says:
   August 11th, 2008 at 04:49

   Yes JG, that's exactly what they're doing. it becomes political correctness when people try to selfishly force other people to conform to their views in the name of protecting their interests or in this case, protecting their kids.
   That's exactly how liberties are always taken away.
   So yes, that's why they're doing it. And that makes it right how?
   

1. Russ Says:
   August 11th, 2008 at 14:38

   Does anyone remember a little movie called,"There's Something About Mary"? If I recall, Matt Dillon used the word quite freely including the term "retard sandwich". I dunno, maybe it's just me but I think this whole stink is just... retarded.
   
   Oh, and look up the word. The first definition I see on Dictionary.com isn't the one describing a mentally challenged person. As you'll note, that one is number 4...
   
   4. Slang: Disparaging.
   a. a mentally retarded person.
   b. a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way: a hopeless social retard.
   
   Number 1 is to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede.
   –verb (used without object)
   2. to be delayed.
   –noun
   3. a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine.
   
   Sorry to beat this into the ground... just making a teeny little point. :)
   
   

1. Kris Says:
   August 11th, 2008 at 14:38

   First off, I know its 2008 and we are supposed to be more sensitive, and its funny becuase "retarded" used to be an actual medically accepted term. Of course it was so generalized that it covered many specific mental disabilities and to use it became ignorant and rude. In the case of a movie, people have to understand, the term is not being used in a derogatory manner, its being used to actually show the characters ignorance. Even if it werent, movies depict harsh and cruel things all the time, and usually theres a reason. We cant keep santiizing our lives becuase its not realistic.
   
   (and for those naysayers who think Im being insisitive, my aunt is handicapped and has worked in with other disabled people, both mentallty and physically, her entire life. If anyone was going to be sensitive to somethign like this it would be her, and she thought this was funny)

1. Alex Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 14:45

   I´m in favor of free speech, but I believe in the personal responsibility of the power media gives, and to a certain degree in the efforts to make it responsible.
   
   That being said, I think those lobbyists are retar.. stup... ga... unwise..

1. Ted Hoffman Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 18:56

   Know what Josh? Your just being a tard yourself if you think it ok to hurt our feelings by calling us I mean those other people retarded. I think we should be able to use that free speech thing but only if everybody agrees with whats being said. I wouldn't pay money for a speech anyway........

1. Ariela Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 19:11

   Wow...the difference between your 'fat' childhood experience and a poor special needs child/adult being called 'retard' is that you grew up and learned how to use media and technology to defend yourself. Many, but not all, special needs people cannot defend themselves.
   
   It's just sick to beat up the weaker guy on the playground.

1. Jim Butler Says:
   August 13th, 2008 at 02:17

   "Retard" is to disability rights as the N-word is to civil rights. It may seem as though people get a little too touchy about it, but once you understand the history, it makes more sense.
   
   It's also in your interest to support the cause of disability rights, since the disabled are a minority group that anyone may join at any time.

1. David Says:
   August 13th, 2008 at 15:47

   This stink is rediculous. With the trash that gone on screen over the years with no issues, but someone uses the retard word and everyone has to get rallied and go lobby their congressman.
   
   WTF special interest? Seriously. Typical absolute thought. Because you go to the movie and laugh you are also directly offending mentally challenged people (a lame soft term. why does America strip the life from words?).
   
   Are we all that "sensitive" that we have to filter all of our -entertainment- so that it never offends or pisses anyone off?
   
   Personally, I plan on seeing this movie soon. Not because want to hate "retards" but because I like the cast and it looks like a riot.
   
   A message to those special interests:
   Grow up and stop trying to filter people's words. Theres ALOT more serious stuff going on in the world. What about all the other injustice and cruelty in the world. There are alot of other causes to raise up in arms about in this country alone. But you better not use naughty language in a movie.

1. head nut Says:
   August 13th, 2008 at 15:49

   So......you think there wouldn't be an uproad if they said you never go full nigger? or gook? or spic? WTF ever! There would have never been an uproad because the studio's would NEVER have allowed it. I bet my right to free speech will be violated because i used the n word i doubt this comment will ever see the light of day.

1. cody Says:
   August 13th, 2008 at 22:36

   Best way to deal with the politically correct freaks is to ignore them the more attention they get the more power they have, hell I'm helping them now. Dont let them bother you.

1. Catie Says:
   August 14th, 2008 at 17:06

   I agree there is a difference between being called fatty as a kid or even being called nigger as a black kid because both you as a kid and the black kids (assuming they are of normal intelligence) is that you CAN defend yourself. YOU can understand that it is a joke or you can grow up and understand that some people are just mean or whatever. Kids and adults who are actually mentally retarded may not be able to fully understand and may never be able to defend themselves. So in a sense, its kinda worse than nigger, kwim? So, maybe the folks who are protesting this are the only ones on solid ground b/c they are defending people who can't defend themselves.

1. Alex Says:
   August 15th, 2008 at 19:03

   That´s the thing Catie. People could be on solid ground defending people who can´t defend themselves, the problem here is if there actually is a need to defend them.
   
   They are using a term to make fun of a specific series of things related to this, be it its exploitation by Hollywood (of which, thanks to these "defenses", Tropic Thunder is also taking advantage), or be it situations that are funny in fiction because they mock in some way the prejudices of reality ( a la family guy, peter might be overly insensitive, and this is hillarious, but at the same time you are mocking his simple mindedness, you dont want to be like him or act like him, you know the guy is stupidly racist, prejudistic, misoginstic, etc. and that is the funniest part), or be it that they make fun of people who are not using the mental faculties they have.
   
   Now I´d have to actually see the movie to have a better opinion, but even if they made jokes against the mentally handicapped directly, which I doubt, it is making fun of a situation in the movie, and not inviting you to go and hit a mentally challenged person in the face.
   I don´t see how using the n word which translates to the spectator as hate, is similar to using the r word which makes the spectator laugh, most likely at people who aren´t mentally challenged, and if it is at those people, that does not carry all the historical background of hate with it and the potential danger of its remnants. Even if the case were that they were laughing at directly at them, it is similar to laughing directly at things generalizations of cultural afroamerican, hispanic, or even caucasian traits.
   
   The only way I would partially agree with the boycott is if the movie was a treatise on why the mentally challenged should be treated poorly or violently or if it sought to convince the world of that. I say "partially agree", because I believe the boycott would only empower it (I´d go more for discussions that undermined that hate speech). Yet, even in the worst case scenarios, it all enters in a world of free speech where individuals have to take the right decisions regarding the issues notwithstanding what is out there. If someone treats a person like this or any other in a criminal prejudistic way, let that person go to jail, but if someone is simply putting words out there, then let´s be selective and wise with them. I am pretty sure though this movie does nothing like what is described in this last paragraph.

1. Greg Byers Says:
   August 16th, 2008 at 02:53

   It seems that Ben Stiller would understand the disabled community, I mean every Halloween people are carving faces into pumpkins and making them look like Ben's big ass head with crazy eyes and putting candles in them to make it seem brighter. And the phrase "Get pumped" , yet another big head reference. Will there ever be an end to this condemnation of the large noggin? I have never heard him publicly complain about those issues and I am sure he is very steamed because there is no support group or cure for PHS ,(Pumpkinhead Syndrome), only understanding. Thank god he isfunny.

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