Comments on: The R-Word, Hate Speech and the Movie “Tropic Thunder” http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/the-r-word-hate-speech-and-the-movie-tropic-thunder/ Art and Words about Community, Interdependence, & Social Justice Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:37:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: JJ http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/the-r-word-hate-speech-and-the-movie-tropic-thunder/#comment-170 JJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:40:22 +0000 http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/?p=303#comment-170 Candee, thanks for the response. My argument was focused more on recent U.S. history. I now see you are addressing a global movement with a broader history. The link you provided was excellent. I will get back to you on George Carlin later. (veinkman) Candee, thanks for the response. My argument was focused more on recent U.S. history. I now see you are addressing a global movement with a broader history. The link you provided was excellent. I will get back to you on George Carlin later. (veinkman)

]]> By: candeebasford http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/the-r-word-hate-speech-and-the-movie-tropic-thunder/#comment-169 candeebasford Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:00:06 +0000 http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/?p=303#comment-169 Dear JJ, Language and words not only represent our reality, they help create it. So, the source or action we take is in part, the language we choose. George Lakoff, Deborah Tannen, and George Carlin have all illustrated the power of language to shape our perspective and our actions. Words and the ways we use them are neither benign nor innocent but efficient and powerful. Also, the past is the present for people with disabilities. Although they no longer die in the Hitler’s gas chambers, (six gassing installations were established as part of the Euthanasia Program: Bernburg, Brandenburg, Grafeneck, Hadamar, Hartheim, and Sonnenstein. These killing centers used pure, chemically manufactured carbon monoxide gas), the elimination of huge numbers of people with disabilities continues today by "prevention" and removal from mainstream society. Nearly all of this “clearing out” is sanctioned by a culture that chooses, once again, to dehumanize a particular segment of the population. It is in this dehumanization, the language that promotes it, and the violence that results that we find common ground with other marginalized groups. To ignore or deny the similarities (or comparisons) is to seal the fate of those human beings labeled by their society as different or deficient - now and in the future. In this post, I referenced The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. For more information go to: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005220 Dear JJ,

Language and words not only represent our reality, they help create it. So, the source or action we take is in part, the language we choose. George Lakoff, Deborah Tannen, and George Carlin have all illustrated the power of language to shape our perspective and our actions. Words and the ways we use them are neither benign nor innocent but efficient and powerful.

Also, the past is the present for people with disabilities. Although they no longer die in the Hitler’s gas chambers, (six gassing installations were established as part of the Euthanasia Program: Bernburg, Brandenburg, Grafeneck, Hadamar, Hartheim, and Sonnenstein. These killing centers used pure, chemically manufactured carbon monoxide gas), the elimination of huge numbers of people with disabilities continues today by “prevention” and removal from mainstream society. Nearly all of this “clearing out” is sanctioned by a culture that chooses, once again, to dehumanize a particular segment of the population.

It is in this dehumanization, the language that promotes it, and the violence that results that we find common ground with other marginalized groups. To ignore or deny the similarities (or comparisons) is to seal the fate of those human beings labeled by their society as different or deficient – now and in the future.

In this post, I referenced The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. For more information go to:
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005220

]]> By: JJ http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/the-r-word-hate-speech-and-the-movie-tropic-thunder/#comment-166 JJ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:51:19 +0000 http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/?p=303#comment-166 I can't help feeling that by denoting "Retard" the "R" word that you are giving it more power than it deserves. I would also argue that main stream media is not responsible for the genocide of those who are/were mentally challenged. That finger she pointed at those who would be embarrassed by the presence of a child who is mentally retarded in their family. For decades [short history, it's really in the hundreds of years] institutions have been erected as hiding places for families with imperfect spawn. When will they be held accountable? Who will hold the administration [pick one: government, state, private...] responsible for the atrocities that are/were conducted behind closed doors to these precious few? You will find that violence against "retards" is practiced directly by the people who are supposed to love them, not the average 12 year old walking down the street. When I was growing up I was made fun of, so was just about everyone else [for anything...]. Point is, no one is safe. The argument as presented is misaligned and off target. We, as a nation, need to target the source and not a "word". Attacking Tropic Thunder is not the answer. I would recommend that you see it and notice how the movie isn't making fun of "retards" as much as it is making fun of Hollywood’s attempts to cash in on movies that portray mentally challenged people. Hollywood and its actors carefully craft characters just enough to grab our attention for ticket sales. Forrest Gump, Rain Man, the list goes on. Tropic thunder points this out, and for those who can decipher it, slaps Hollywood hard. Worried about 12 year olds seeing this? Me too. They shouldn't, and that's why it is rated "R". Pressure should be exerted on the theaters to make sure age guidelines are enforced and parents also need to be held accountable. Imagine that. Political correctness should be an action and not whittling words down to one letter, and to compare "Retard" to "Nigger" and the plight of black Americans is far fetched. Yes I said Black Americans because to call someone African American is too presumptuous. Not all Black Americans have descendants from Africa. Ever give that any thought? Unless someone can site exact cases of lynchings [orchestrated by an organized group i.e. Klu Klux Klan] various in number, to mentally challenged people, other than the institutions family members submitted them to the portion of the above stated argument should be disregarded. I also missed the Mentally Challenged Holocaust and the Mentally Challenged gay and lesbian movement. Not to say they did not/ do not exist but someone should report on it and bring it to light. Otherwise these comparisons cannot be made. Statistics listed above are a little old to be quoting. If the Author wanted to make a more ridged argument something more recent should have been cited. If you want to reference something that is believed to be ongoing there should be something to back it up. I can’t help feeling that by denoting “Retard” the “R” word that you are giving it more power than it deserves. I would also argue that main stream media is not responsible for the genocide of those who are/were mentally challenged. That finger she pointed at those who would be embarrassed by the presence of a child who is mentally retarded in their family. For decades [short history, it's really in the hundreds of years] institutions have been erected as hiding places for families with imperfect spawn. When will they be held accountable? Who will hold the administration [pick one: government, state, private...] responsible for the atrocities that are/were conducted behind closed doors to these precious few?
You will find that violence against “retards” is practiced directly by the people who are supposed to love them, not the average 12 year old walking down the street.
When I was growing up I was made fun of, so was just about everyone else [for anything...]. Point is, no one is safe. The argument as presented is misaligned and off target. We, as a nation, need to target the source and not a “word”.
Attacking Tropic Thunder is not the answer. I would recommend that you see it and notice how the movie isn’t making fun of “retards” as much as it is making fun of Hollywood’s attempts to cash in on movies that portray mentally challenged people. Hollywood and its actors carefully craft characters just enough to grab our attention for ticket sales. Forrest Gump, Rain Man, the list goes on. Tropic thunder points this out, and for those who can decipher it, slaps Hollywood hard.
Worried about 12 year olds seeing this? Me too. They shouldn’t, and that’s why it is rated “R”. Pressure should be exerted on the theaters to make sure age guidelines are enforced and parents also need to be held accountable. Imagine that.
Political correctness should be an action and not whittling words down to one letter, and to compare “Retard” to “Nigger” and the plight of black Americans is far fetched. Yes I said Black Americans because to call someone African American is too presumptuous. Not all Black Americans have descendants from Africa. Ever give that any thought? Unless someone can site exact cases of lynchings [orchestrated by an organized group i.e. Klu Klux Klan] various in number, to mentally challenged people, other than the institutions family members submitted them to the portion of the above stated argument should be disregarded. I also missed the Mentally Challenged Holocaust and the Mentally Challenged gay and lesbian movement. Not to say they did not/ do not exist but someone should report on it and bring it to light. Otherwise these comparisons cannot be made.

Statistics listed above are a little old to be quoting. If the Author wanted to make a more ridged argument something more recent should have been cited. If you want to reference something that is believed to be ongoing there should be something to back it up.

]]> By: meg http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/the-r-word-hate-speech-and-the-movie-tropic-thunder/#comment-163 meg Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:47:11 +0000 http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/?p=303#comment-163 I'm not sure that people understand what happens when offensive words are used in popular culture...they never go away! They stick around to mock and disrespect those who fight against it. The 12 year olds who watch these movies jokingly call each other these verbal prejudices, not even knowing what they mean - only using them because it was in their favorite movie. And those who struggle against these stereotypes are told to "get over it" while they continue to be suppressed, degraded, and demoralized. You're not being a realist, you're being rude. It’s called compassion...try it out sometime. I’m not sure that people understand what happens when offensive words are used in popular culture…they never go away! They stick around to mock and disrespect those who fight against it. The 12 year olds who watch these movies jokingly call each other these verbal prejudices, not even knowing what they mean – only using them because it was in their favorite movie. And those who struggle against these stereotypes are told to “get over it” while they continue to be suppressed, degraded, and demoralized. You’re not being a realist, you’re being rude. It’s called compassion…try it out sometime.

]]> By: BJ http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/the-r-word-hate-speech-and-the-movie-tropic-thunder/#comment-162 BJ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:28:21 +0000 http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/?p=303#comment-162 Get over it. Do not sensor studios and what they can produce. Free speech is definately not always popular speech. Get over it. Do not sensor studios and what they can produce. Free speech is definately not always popular speech.

]]> By: Tropic Thunder is Not Funny « Where’s the Sun? http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/the-r-word-hate-speech-and-the-movie-tropic-thunder/#comment-161 Tropic Thunder is Not Funny « Where’s the Sun? Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:20:33 +0000 http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/?p=303#comment-161 [...] movie in the near future I urge you to spend your money viewing something that doesn’t make a mockery out of those with disabilities. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)What ’Tropic [...] [...] movie in the near future I urge you to spend your money viewing something that doesn’t make a mockery out of those with disabilities. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)What ’Tropic [...]

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