Today’s New York Times weighs in not so much about the movie Tropic Thunder’s use of the r-word, as on the more general phenomenon of certain Hollywood movies seeking to top levels of tastelessness and crassness, and un-PC-ness, all in the name of box office revenues.
The r-word is kind of r-rated around here and, indeed, just simply rude.
And a sign of a rube?

I read about Jenny, a “special-needs elephant” (per the New York Times; she has, among much else, “crippling depression”). In the midst of discussions about the “r-word” in the Tropic Thunder movie, the words we use to refer to “kids who are different” or “academically challenged” or “special ed/special needs” resonate. When did “special” come to mean “needs SPECIAL education,” with undercurrents of, “not the most academically gifted student; not even average”?
It’s not an academic question to me. My son Charlie’s academic abilities are “way way below” those considered “average” for his grade and age. And yet Jim and I, …read more

Regarding this boycott of the movie Tropic Thunder over its use of the term “retarded” and director and star Ben Stiller’s portrayal of “a weak-minded character named Simple Jack” : It’s starting to seem that, really, Hollywood’s got the “developmental delays”—is being “a little slow to get it”—-at least when it comes to understanding why mocking the “retarded” may be the last acceptable prejudice.
And, why they should stop doing it.

Here’s an article on the Special Olympics website about the boycott.

More than a dozen disabilities groups—including the Arc of the United States, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the American Association of People With Disabilities—-are calling on Monday for a boycott of the movie Tropic Thunder, which is to be released this Wednesday. The film is directed by actor Ben Stiller and is, according to the August 10th New York Times, a “movie-industry spoof”:
A particular sore point has been the film’s repeated use of the term “retard” in referring to a character, Simple Jack, who is played by Mr. Stiller in a subplot about an actor who chases an Oscar by …read more

Last December, Cynthia Standifer killed her adopted son, Rasheed Michael Standifer, who had intellectual disabilities. According to the May 22nd Enquirer (Cincinnati), Standifer injected large doses of morphine into her son and then also injected herself with the drug and was found on December 26. Last Wednesday, May 21st, Standifer was given the minimum sentence of three years by a judge who “praised her for adopting a disabled child and caring for him for two decades.” More from the Enquirer:
Standifer, a nurse, poisoned her son – who had the mental capacity of an 8-year-old – because she feared he soon …read more