A Different Boycott

Related to my earlier post on the movie "Tropic Thunder," I just got this e-mail from the advocacy group The Arc.  Special Olympics, the Down Sydrome Association of America, and the National Down Syndrome Congress are among the others joining this call for a boycott.  The "Blueberryshoes" 60-second video is powerful (and short).

Arc members and friends,

The movie "Tropic Thunder" opens nationwide this week and reportedly contains many offensive uses of the word "retard" and a negative portrayal of a character with an intellectual disability named "Simple Jack." You may have received other e-mails and links about this.

Being called "retarded" is painful to persons with intellectual disabilities. Language matters; it can cut human beings down or build them up. Here's what we’d like people to do:

• Boycott the movie and if you can, donate the dollars you would have spent to a disability organization you support.
• Instead of seeing the movie, take a minute to watch this short :60 second public service announcement made for the Arc of Northern Virginia. www.blueberryshoes.com There is much more power in this "R" word. Send this link to everyone you know!
• Take time to talk with others about why language matters. You can use the "Hate Speech" flyer prepared by The Arc of the U.S. [here].

Thank you!

UPDATE:  The legitimacy of this boycott has been the matter of intense debate within my own household, with about an even split between those who think that it's a perfectly legitimate occasion to take a public stand on behalf of the most vulnerable population in our society today, and others who think that the film seems to be making fun of the vanity and shallowness of actors, rather than people with disabilities.  Those in the latter camp argue you can't judge without seeing the movie.  But that defeats the whole purpose of the boycott.  It's a quandary.......