[kj] OT Boycott .the film Tropic Thunder

[blankwerks]

Yay for satire.

2008/8/19 sade1 <saulomar1 at yahoo.com>


> *blankwerks wroteth*:

>

> > You are supposed to be laughing at their ridiculous behaviour and

> > that they ARE bigoted idiots** obsessed only with themselves,

>

>

>   So I saw the movie yesterday morning, and it was a fun ride. I haven't

> been to

> the movies in almost 2 years, but this one made me wanna go (cuz i'm a fan

> of Stiller's work).

>

>   Someone else mentioned "The Man Who Knew Too Little" and Tropic

> Thunder's <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942385/>

> plot was similar, except it's in a war-movie setting. It spoofs film-making

> with plenty

> of movie and film-industry references.

>

>   By the time you see RoDo,Jr. and BeSti. profusely saying the words

> "retarded,"

> "retard" and even "..going full retard,"etc.etc.you already know how far

> beyond-the-pale

> these idiots** really are; the dialogue is only to further underline and

> highlight in neon-

> yellow how unbelievably, unforgivingly moronic those self-serving,

> self-indulgent,

> bigoted and obliviously self-absorbed these Hollywood "Industry" types

> really are.

>

> It's called Satire. Protected under Federal law, even.

>

> ** see, *"By the way,** are there any..."*<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_y_LaMokGM>

>

>           [transcript starts paragraph 9<http://www.wam.umd.edu/%7Emolouns/amst450/delillo/1950s.html>]

>

>     from back when the bigoted threat

>     to people's lives was still palpable

>                                     here in u.s.

>   Anyone who finds this movie as an attack on the disabled either hasn't

> seen it,

> or totally does not get the joke/satire and therefore cannot judge. THIS IS

> NOT

> AT ALL like THE OBAMA COVER ON *THE NEW YORKER* Magazine. This film

> provides you full context for the joke, and does so on a silver plate.

>

> Also, i haven't seen any opponents to the film comment on how Ben Stiller

> ends up paying his Karmic debt for having denigrated the mentally

> challenged, how he ends up doing WHITEface theater playing a literally

> pasty-faced, dried up straw-haired character in a prison camp.

>

>   Anyone finding this movie offensive to mentally challenged people

> will prolly find

> *Schindler's List* <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108052/>anti-semitic

> because it shows Amon Goeth gleefully whacking jews

> left and right..; will prolly find *The Godfather* racist towards blacks

> because the Mafia

> dons talk about, *"...keep the [heroin] traffic in the dark people, the

> colored. They're animals anyway so let them lose their souls.**..." *

>

>

> *  *   Full Disclosure... i'd be for the protests, but if they had *seen

> the film first!*

> Absolutely no harm in that.

>

>

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

>

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

>

> 'Save me...

>   save me from Tomorrow..

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

>

>

> --- On *Mon, 8/18/08, ade <ade at the-lab.zetnet.co.uk>* wrote:

>

> From: ade <ade at the-lab.zetnet.co.uk>

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

> To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)" <

> gathering at misera.net>

> Date: Monday, August 18, 2008, 12:59 PM

>

>  It will probably work better over here as we tend to get that they're

> playing loathsome characters. A lot of our humour seems cruel, but is

> actually putting up a mirror to nastiness. Check out Brass Eye or The Day

> Today if you ever get chance.

>

> Better still, just keep on censoring, eh.

>

> -----Original Message-----

> *From:* gathering-bounces at misera.net [mailto:gathering-bounces at misera.net]

> *On Behalf Of *blankwerks

> *Sent:* 18 August 2008 10:52

> *To:* A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)

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

>

> Again, isn't the inclusion of a clearly white, and not knowedgable about

> any black issues, actor, blacked up and frankly ludicrous, just part of the

> story to indicate clearly how out of touch and precious that this bunch of

> actors are?

>

> The whole thing surely is to demonstrate how ridiculously self obsessed and

> self appreciating this bunch of idiots are, and how they clearly have

> delusions that their "art" propels them to a status where they are free to

> comment and judge, and indeed represent by acting any social racial or

> minority group.

>

> You are supposed to be laughing at their ridiculous behaviour and at the

> fact that they ARE bigoted idiots obsessed only with themselves, not

> laughing at the word "retard" or the fact that someone has "blacked up". The

> whole point is that people like this and attitudes like that are outdated

> and unwanted, and to ridicule people that hold those thoughts and are so

> dismissive of anyone who doesn't hold the same status as them.

>

> You are missing the whole point of those characters - they and their views

> are the ones that are being ridiculed, not the subjects of their discussion.

> Plenty of comedy and satirical films and programmes where main characters

> are used in this way to portray the simple mindedness of the lead character,

> wouldn't surprise me if the idea of this was lifted by Stiller from the UK

> version of The Office and more specifically David Brent's treatment and

> behaviour towards their employee who is a wheelchair user. The whole comedy

> in those pieces was directed towards the ludicrous views of Brent, and not

> towards the disabled person.

>

> Incidentally, I'm no Stiller fan - but merely because he isn't funny, not

> because he is some kind of racist disability hating Hollywood star.

>

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

>

>> not to forget they have a white guy in black face,racist film aswell.they

>> consulted

>> the NAACP but none of the agencies serving people who experience

>> disabilities.

>> Go figure,why would they care if they make fun of a defenseless

>> group,utter cowards

>> these hollywood people are.Completly Fked off,Cliff

>>

>>

>> > 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...!'   /

>> >> >>>>

>> >> >>>>

>> >> >>>>

>> >> >>>>

>> >> >>>>

>> >> >>>>

>> >> >>>>

>> >>

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

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

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

>> >> >>>>

>> >>

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

>> >> >>>>

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