[kj] OT Boycott the film Tropic Thunder

[blankwerks]

Isn't the film also about the ludicrous behaviour of a group of self
obsessed actors? surely their dismissal and mockery of any group is down to
the fact that they are in fact a load of complete wankers only able to think
about themselves?

I don't plan on seing the film, but I know the general premise is that they
are arseholes who get taught a lesson and re-evaluate themselves. Their use
of the "retard" word just goes to show how out of touch they are.

Oh and protesting about it will certainly do one thing - gve it more
publicity. And not get the studio to take it off release.


2008/8/18 <cliffmonka at alaska.net>


> Hiya ok here's a tv news story and daily news article from the protest

> boycotting

> the film Tropic Thunder we did on saturday,Peace,Cliff

>

> http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=8853261

>

> http://www.adn.com/arts/story/496381.html

>

>

> > http://www.adn.com/arts/story/496381.html

> >

> >

> >> Terrific article by Tim Shriver...

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >> *What 'Tropic Thunder' Thinks Is Funny*

> >> By Timothy Shriver

> >> Monday, August 11, 2008; A15

> >>

> >> I've been told = to keep my sense of humor about the film "Tropic

> Thunder,"

> >> which opens = this week. Despite my requests, I have not been given the

> chance

> >> to see = the movie. But I've seen previews, read about it and read

> excerpts = of

> >> the script. By all accounts, it is an unchecked assault on the =

> humanity of

> >> people with intellectual disabilities -- an affront to = dignity, hope

> and

> >> respect.

> >>

> >> Consider this exchange:

> >>

> >> Ben = Stiller's character: "There were times when I was doing Jack when

> = I

> >> actually felt retarded. Like really retarded."

> >>

> >> Robert Downey = Jr.'s character: "Oh yeah. Damn."

> >>

> >> Stiller: "In a weird way, I had = to sort of just free myself up to

> believe

> >> that it was okay to be stupid = or dumb."

> >>

> >> Downey: "To be a moron."

> >>

> >> Stiller: "Yeah."

> >>

> >> At= another point, about acting like a person with intellectual

> disabilities,<=

> >> BR>they say:

> >>

> >> Stiller: "It's what we do, right?"

> >>

> >> Downey: = "Everybody knows you never do a full retard."

> >>

> >> Stiller: "What do you = mean?"

> >>

> >> Downey: "Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man,' look = retarded, act

> >> retarded, not retarded. Count toothpicks to your cards. = Autistic,

> sure. Not

> >> retarded. You know Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump.' Slow, = yes. Retarded,

> maybe.

> >> Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off = Nixon and won a

> ping-pong

> >> competition. That ain't retarded. You went = full retard, man. Never go

> full

> >> retard."

> >>

> >> I worked with the = Farrelly brothers on a film on this topic. I know

> about

> >> edgy comedy. = I'm also told that movies are equal-opportunity

> offenders.

> >>

> >> So = here's an equal-opportunity response to the equal-opportunity

> offenders:

> >> People with intellectual disabilities are routinely abused, neglected,=

> >> insulted, institutionalized and even killed around the world. Their =

> parents

> >> are told to give up, that their children are worthless. Schools = turn

> them

> >> away. Doctors refuse to treat them. Employers won't hire = them. None of

> this

> >> is funny.

> >>

> >> For centuries, they have been the = exception to the most basic

> spiritual

> >> principle: that we are each equal = in spirit, capable of reflecting the

> >> goodness of the divine, carriers = of love. But not people with

> intellectual

> >> disabilities. What's a word = commonly applied to them? Hopeless.

> >>

> >> Let's consider where we are in = 2008. Our politics are about overcoming

> >> division, our social movements = are about ending intolerance, our great

> >> philanthropists promote ending = poverty and disease among the world's

> poor.

> >> Are people with intellectual= disabilities included in the mainstream of

> >> these movements? For the = most part, no.

> >>

> >> Why? Because they're different. Their joy doesn't = fit on magazine

> covers.

> >> Their spirituality doesn't come in self-help = television. Their kind of

> >> wealth doesn't command political attention. = (The best of the spirit

> never

> >> does.)

> >>

> >> Sadly, they're such an easy = target that many people don't realize whom

> they

> >> are making fun of when = they use the word "retard." Most people just

> think

> >> it's funny. "Stupid, = idiot, moron, retard." Ha, ha, ha.

> >>

> >> I know: I could be too sensitive.= But I was taught that mean isn't

> funny.

> >> And I've been to institutions = where people with intellectual

> disabilities

> >> are tied to beds or lie on = concrete floors, forgotten. I've heard

> doctors

> >> say they won't treat = them. I know Gallup found that more than 60

> percent of

> >> Americans don't = want a person with an intellectual disability at their

> >> child's = school.

> >>

> >> I've talked to people with intellectual disabilities who = cry over

> being

> >> insulted on a bus. I've received too many e-mails from = people who are

> >> devastated not by their child's disability but by the = terror of being

> >> laughed at, excluded and economically devastated.

> >> It wasn't funny when Hollywood humiliated African Americans for a

> >> gener= ation. It's never funny when good and decent human beings are

> >> humiliated= . In fact, it is dangerous and disgusting.

> >>

> >> This film is all that = and more. DreamWorks went so far as to create a

> >> mini-version of Simple = Jack and posted it online. The studio has since

> >> pulled it down, = realizing it had gone too far, even in an age of edgy,

> >> R-rated = comedies.

> >>

> >> So, enough. Stop the hurtful jokes. Talk to your children = about

> language

> >> that is bullying and mean. Ask your friends, your = educators, your

> religious

> >> leaders to help us to end the stubborn myth = that people with

> intellectual

> >> disabilities are hopeless. Ask Hollywood = to get on the right side of

> >> dignity.

> >>

> >> I hope others will join me = in shutting this movie out of our lives and

> our

> >> pocketbooks. We don't = live in times when labeling and humiliating

> others is

> >> funny. And we = should send that message far and wide.

> >>

> >> *The writer is chairman of = Special Olympics and a columnist for

> >> washingtonpost.com's On Faith = discussion site.*

> >>

> >>

> >>> It's received mostly good reviews:

> >>>

> >>> http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/tropicthunder

> >>>

> >>> That's a great website, btw.

> >>>

> >>> -Oliver

> >>>

> >>>

> >>> folk devil wrote:

> >>>> not sure i really want to....too many 'war' films...and a haha to bang

> >>>> bang doesn't really work for me at the mo..

> >>>>

> >>>> /"/

> >>>>

> >>>>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> >>>> Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:42:20 -0700

> >>>> From: saulomar1 at yahoo.com

> >>>> To: gathering at misera.net

> >>>> Subject: Re: [kj] OT Boycott the film Tropic Thunder

> >>>>

> >>>> Anyone seen the movie yet?

> >>>>

> >>>>

> >>>>

> >>>> ... ... ... ... ... ...

> >>>>

> >>>> /*[looking at the current state of things]*/

> >>>>

> >>>> 'Save me...

> >>>>   save me from Tomorrow..

> >>>>    I don't want to /sail //in this Ship Of Fools...!'   /

> >>>>

> >>>>

> >>>>

> >>>>

> >>>>

> >>>>

> >>>>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> >>>> Your PC, mobile phone, and online services work together like never

> >>>> before. See how Windows(R) fits your life

> >>>> <http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108587394/direct/01/>

> >>>>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> >>>>

> >>>> _______________________________________________

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> >>>>

> >>>

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> >>

> >>

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