When Larkin was diagnosed with Lennox-Gaustaut and I began to devour information in regards to the prognosis, I was punched in the face over and over by the words “severe mental retardation”. Over and Over folks. That is how it feels to read those words. To know you can’t fix it. To know that your hands are tied and your heart is being squeezed to the point that you wonder if it will explode. So on that note – I am going to share an email I sent out today. Mental retardation aint funny. If this were a movie about any other group, the media would FREAK out but of course Hollywood is SO progressive and SO democratic – that they would NEVER pick on the little one right? Guess again.
It’s not often that I will offer up an email about something I disagree with. However I am taking the time this afternoon to let you know about a movie that is being released soon. Tropic Thunder with stars such as Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise will be coming to a theater near us soon and you can be certain with this cast line up and the heavy marketing, your children will want to see it.
What caught my heart was the slogan that Dream Works has chosen to promote this movie. “Once upon a time….There was a Retard” and Ben Stiller is playing an individual with intellectual disabilities. Yeah that is making me laugh pretty hard. I love Ben Stiller and I love Jack Black. I am so sad that they are among a group that has decided to make a movie about those with mental retardation to get laughs.
Once upon a time there was a sweet little girl born. Larkin has a medical diagnosis of mental retardation because of Down syndrome and further brain damage caused by a catastrophic seizure disorder. Even typing that brings this mother to her knees and I can’t even believe I am having to send an email asking that you not support this movie. I can’t believe that our children are still being used as the whipping post for actors and writers to get a laugh. I can’t fight it all the time and mostly I just shrug and move along and turn my back on those who can’t see the sunshine that is right in front of their dark minds.
So this email is for my little girl. The small one who can’t fight it. The small one who fights a war every single day to prove her worth. The bundle of sunshine who will hug you and love you in spite of the ugliness that at times like this surrounds her. I beg you to not see this movie. I beg you to voice your thoughts. I beg you to think of Little Larkin and the millions like her. I have included a link so you can read further. Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think needs to know.
Ugh, I’m right there with you. It’s unbelievable that the “funniest” thing they can come up with is mocking those that can’t defend themselves.
How about a comedy about child sex workers, abused women… Or more in keeping with the medical theme we could go with cancer patients. That’s just what I would have loved when I was bald, fat from steroids, and so sick I could barely stand… A great comedy mocking my fuzz ball head. Yeah, right.
I have a name for people like them, I call them Jack, Jack Cass. It is unbelieveable to me that people think this is funny.
Unbelievable. If it is about a “corps of knuckleheads” why not say *that* in the trailer. What were they thinking (or I guess “not thinking”)?
And for them to claim that they are equally offensive across the board. I just don’t even have a response for you.