Paramount Pictures’ new comedy “Tropic Thunder,” recently released, includes a character called “Simple Jack” played by the actor Ben Stiller. Simple Jack has an intellectual disability (formerly referred to as mental retardation), and is an object of derision in the film. The movie contains frequent use of the word “retard” and other insults used to describe this character.
The Arc of Sullivan County has a program called People Place that provides social and learning activities for people with developmental disabilities. We take this degrading depiction of people with disabilities to heart.
It is difficult to understand why people think it’s OK to make fun of people with intellectual disabilities, and we cannot fathom why people use the word “retard” to refer to someone in a degrading manner.
People with developmental and intellectual disabilities experience record unemployment, significant physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and limited rights more than any other group.
They have a history of institutionalization, genocide, forced sterilization, segregation, and being regarded as less than human.
People with intellectual disabilities need to be treated as any other person with respect and dignity. Join us in boycotting the film “Tropic Thunder.” Please stop using the word “retard” to make fun of others.
People Place extends an open invitation to our community to come and get to know us – a finer group of folks you’ll never meet!
Nancy Vartan
director, People Place
Bristol, Tenn.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement