For Natalie

For this sweetie pie.

I’m not usually one for political correctness, and I’m certainly not pro-censorship. But I believe as a society we have the right to stand up for things we believe in. And while the actors, producers, and directors behind this piece of trash movie have every right to make it, I have every right to use it as an example of what’s wrong with Hollywood and society.

Tropic Thunder is another cheap laughs comedy that appears to have no redeeming artistic value whatsoever. To make matters worse, the movie makes persistent and offensive use of the word “ret.ard” to refer to a character played by Ben Stiller. It even goes so far as to coin a phrase “go full ret.ard”. And while I appreciate the tenets of artistic freedom, movies like this are not artistic; they are provided for the dregs of society to make themselves feel superior. They are the comedies of the bottom-feeders – the name calling notes of our childhood disguised as entertainment.

I’m not going to give a whole diatribe on how much this whole thing disgusts me. What I am going to say is that I think that the best way to send the message that this is disgusting to you is to not see the movie. Don’t go to the theater, don’t rent it, and don’t encourage others to see it.

Here’s a good op-ed piece on it in the Washington Post. And if you agree, go support a mom who says it much better than me, with good resources on the issue as well.

And again, I’m reminded of one of my favorite pieces:

First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.

by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

Stand up.