Boycott "Tropic Thunder"

The movie Tropic Thunder will be released on August 13th. I am asking you to boycott the film. You will find below two links to articles regarding the upcoming release of the movie "Tropic Thunder", which features Ben Stiller portraying an "intellectually challenged" adult. The term "retard" isused frequently throughout the film, as noted on the movie poster featured in the movie "once upon a time . . . there was a retard" and the discussion between two of the starring actors during which Robert Downey Jr.'s character advises Stiller's character to "never go full retard." There are an estimated 14.3 million Americans with cognitive disabilities. These people share a history of segregation and exclusion, and report that what many call the "R-word" reinforces negative social attitudes just as surely as racial, ethnic and sexually oriented slurs do. http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/08/01/once-upon-a-time http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/08/01/never-go-full-retard There are efforts underway in some parts of the country to organize boycotts of the movie, from what I have heard. Please consider how you can participate in making clear that use of this type of language and characterization is offensive and hurtful to people across the country, and reflects poorly on our society as a whole. Please ask everyone you know to boycott this movie! Empty movie theaters would speak loudly! This came in an email from Julie Moulton, fellow Maine PASA member and fellow VOICES Institute Graduate.