Connected with the "Tropic Thunder" controversy, the Special Olympics has begun R-word.org and is asking for pledges of support to eliminate the demeaning use of the r-word. At 6 p.m. EST August 13, the Web site had almost 3000 pledges.The Special Olympics public Web site is also focusing in the R-word campaign.
In other news about the "Tropic Thunder" controversy:
- An interesting story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that interviews a language scholar about the R-word: Celine-Marie Pascale, an American University sociologist who analyzes language and representation, said: "There's probably nothing more fundamental to civil rights than the ability to name oneself. You wouldn't call someone a 'Negro' today, and we use 'Asian' instead of 'Oriental.' 'Retard' is a slur that opens up wounds," she said. "Even if the movie is spectacular, it imbeds that speech in society. You can't legislate against it, but you can advocate about the damage that gets done."
- Organized by the Disabilities Network of NYC, New York City disability organizations will join together the evening of August 13 at Clearview's Chelsea movie theater, 260 W 23rd St., to protest the NYC premiere of DreamWorks film "Tropic Thunder" to demonstrate against its negative use of the inflammatory word “retard” and its demeaning portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities.
- Steve Gorelick on his Media and Mayhem blog questions how the language in "Tropic Thunder" made it all the way through the long Hollywood production cycle: "Because what this whole shameful episode makes clear is that this entire promotional campaign - the posters, the web sites, the trailers, everything - made it through the entire DreamWorks production and promotion process without anyone, not one person , ever stopping to ask themselves: Sure we can say anything we want. Sure we can use the word 'retard.' But do we want to? Should we? Is it right? Is it kind? Who would we hurt? Nobody asked. Nobody asked."
- Long Island's Newsday has an interview with a man with Down syndrome on his feelings about the R-word: "Craig Ludin is 32. He's best at swimming, although he plays a good golf game, too. He works at Capital One Bank. He has Down syndrome. And he hates the word 'retarded.' 'I feel unhappy and hurt when they use the word 'retarded,'' said Ludin, of Dix Hills. 'It's very hurtful.' Ludin, who added that he is a capable adult who graduated from high school, said there is no place in society for the word."
