| # | Name | Comments |
|---|
| 3651 | Catherine Herriot | My 18 month old son has Down Syndrome I would be devestated if any body called the best thing in my life a retard and you are encouraging it. I'd like to see you do this film without guilt if one of the cast had a child with a disability!!! |
| 3652 | Patricia M. Buckley | Adults have to be responible and not re-iterate a word or words that would encourage others, especially children to use them.. PMB |
| 3653 | Debbie Warren | |
| 3654 | Mako Jacobs | I am a special education teacher that has a classroom of AWESOME students. My kids have Down Syndrome, Autism, and other developmental delays. I, as well as others, have worked hard to teach the general curriculum students that all people have individual learning styles, gifts, and contributions. I feel like the rug was just pulled out from beneath me.
These supposedly educated adults just put "bullying" into the movie theaters. How sad that we now feel that putting down others is entertainment and appropriate. I, for one, have lost all respect for these men and the so called entertainment business.
Our country is still fighting for civil/human rights when it comes to individuals with disabilities. It will take all of us to stand up and say we won't tolerate this term, the treatment it represents, or the hurt that it causes. |
| 3655 | Jennifer Jessee | My 4 year old son has Down Syndrome and I will do anything in my power to protect him from people or bully's who think that word is acceptable. He is more beautiful than you could ever know. People with diabilities have enough to worry about without having to deal with others that think it is ok to treat them like they are less deserving of respect. They may be a little different than some of you, but one thing they have in common is they shed tears and feel hurt too. Freedom of speech? More like freedom to be ignorant and hateful. If you still think it is ok to exploit that awful word, you don't deserve to ever know my son nor anyone like him. It is a privelage to be his mother. He has taught me more lessons about life and he is only 4. He is perfect in my eyes and more loving than someone with hate in their heart deserves. |
| 3656 | Amanda Gray | I have a two yr. old daughter named Delainey Ava Gray, she wah diagnosed before birth with Down Syndrome, which also affected her heart, requiring oopen heart surgery at five months old. You have no idea how scary it was for me to overcome the fear of the Downs as well as it affecting her heart, not knowing whether she would live or die. I am very offended the term "retarted" or anything there of is being used.....I guess you didn't mind asking the black community if they were offended...but what about the mentally challanged??? thye are people too, and have a right to voice how they feel. Do you think they are so "mentally challenged" they won't realize what they are talking about in the movie?? Think again. I am disgusted. I liked ben stillers' movies..........but never again will i see them, or any of the actors in this so called movie. |
| 3657 | Regina Spriggs | |
| 3658 | Gerald O'Mara | My mother thought due to my birth I would be retarded. It hurt to hear that spoken about me. I heard it though they thought it was hushed. I became an air traffic controller in the Navy and I am an operating engineer. I have a son who has autism. The hurt is there all over again. My wife and I say only nice things about him because he hears everything that is said. He proudly says I'm smart...and we agree. He has unconditional love, he remembers things we have long forgotten, he has more fight and determined spirit having survived neonatal unit, and parplegia, and is walking and talking again. He has a deep faith, and sees only the good in people. Maybe more people should be like him. Jerry O'Mara |
| 3659 | Ruth Appleyard | How tasteless can you get. In this world we now live, it is abhorrent to hear that you could offend those with mental impariments the way you have. Shame on you. |
| 3660 | Anonymous | |
| 3661 | Charlyne Olko | |
| 3662 | Larry Tormey | |
| 3663 | Diana Monti | |
| 3664 | Ana Cristina Rodrigues | |
| 3665 | craig miller | What a shame these actors have missed out on the blessing of having a down syndrome gifted person to have a relationship with in their lives. |
| 3666 | Julie OBrien | I too am apalled at this. I have a 18 year old special needs daughter and it angers me every time I hear the word retard. Luckily my daughter cannot understand what that means, but I do know lots of children that it would hurt. |
| 3667 | Judy Soares | It saddens me when our movie industry has stooped to make fun of those with intellectual deficits. I think they need to be aware that it is they who have the deficits and making fun of others has become justified as humor. There is certainly a double standard here. If it were making fun of race or sexual orientation, then that would be wrong according to Hollywood. When it comes to human conditions or Christian values, there is no standard. Financial gain is more important than anything good or tasteful and certainly more important than the influence on young moviegoers who foolishly believe these actors are good. For once, do the "right" thing and remove the words retarded from movies. It is as offensive to me as the "n" word is to my African American friends. |
| 3668 | Anonymous | My best friend's daughter is autistic. All of us who love her have fought hard to make sure she grows, thrives, and has as normal of a life as is possible. I never want to hear anyone use that word in reference to her, or to anyone else with disabilities. I would hope that adults who watch a rated R movie have advanced beyond thinking that word is funny. |
| 3669 | Susan Scarre | I absolutely love Jack Black, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr, and would normally have gone to see a film like this as soon as it opened. Unfortunately, I won't be seeing the movie now, as I do agree that if we're going to be politically correct, it has to cover all issues, including mental health. I'm not a 'stiff' and see all sorts of comedies, eg Scary Movie, Team America, etc. |
| 3670 | Anonymous | |
| 3671 | Meredith Greene | |
| 3672 | Anonymous | I have a grandson with downs syndrome, and he is the best thing that ever happend to our family. He is always smiling, and happy, and to think that a person can use the word "retard" to decribe others like him, just to make himself wealthy, is obsurd. All I can say is that some people dont have a conscience, or they could not use people in this manner. With these kind of people in the world, that have to stoop so low, to use our children, with disabilites, to make them rich, they need our prayers. |
| 3673 | Cynthia Barker | |
| 3674 | Sandra Phinney | I have a darling grandchild with Down Syndrome. Everytime I hear the word "retard" or "retarded" it is a knife through my heart. I speak to everyone I hear using it, hoping that understanding the pain will prevent use of the word. And now we have this film! I'm saddened and sickened. |
| 3675 | Shelley Gonzales | My son is 3 years old and has already been impacted by this r word. He has a moderate speech disorder that causes him to be extremely hard to understand verbally. He has heard this word (and accompanying attitude) on the playground, in playgroups and at tee ball. As his parents we do not miss the attitude and looks he gets from others children and adults. We have fought to get the schooling and therapies he has needed. We, as a family, have experienced enough ignorance, that existed before your film, for a lifetime. To know that as a culture we are ready to attack humans that are effected by disabilities sickens me. You do not have the ability to decide how the people in the movie theaters respond to the comedy you have decided to portray, nor how hurtful the word will be to hear over and over again in playgrounds, schools and public places to those it is used against. You and I maybe able to see the underlying satire, but the hatred already exists in many ignorant minds without this type of encouragement. Many of the letters you are recieving right now are from parents whose children will be affected by your uncaring and flip attitude in regards to their abilities- have you thought or considered that many of the children will never understand your satire or your "meaning in context" , but with a very cruel irony, be able to understand the hurtful, hateful, meaning behind the "FULL RETARD" statement when it is overheard or used against them. Hopefully the only suicide here will be the careers of those involved with the production of this movie, and that families will be able to rally against this general attitude and support their loved ones to live a life where they can find acceptance and love within our culture. My son deserves respect and love and a chance, not to be shut out with an attitude that he is less than perfect. It takes all kinds. It is too bad that you were not taught any empathy (my children will be taught) and you have no sense of corporate responsibility (as a small business owner I volunteer my time and services to families experiencing the loss of a child). I sincerely hope you will get the picture and make attempts to fix the negative impact you have had in creating this comedy. Now go and hug your children!! |
| 3676 | Katherine Mathisen | |
| 3677 | Elaine Chouinard | |
| 3678 | warren kennedy | |
| 3679 | Becky Roe | |
| 3680 | rita riaz | you should all be ashamed of yourselves....hurting the most innocent and loving members of our society...you are all sick, sick, sick... |
| 3681 | Connie Buckalew | Inappropriate! |
| 3682 | Anonymous | |
| 3683 | melvin marshall | I was very disturbed by the information that i recieved with the negativity of your new movie and its references to retard. My 8 year old son has downs syndrome and is the sweetest by you will ever meet. He has known how to work a vcr since he was 3yrs old and also Knows how to turn on the computer and get to his favorite kids site to watch his nickelodeon shows. I hope this petition gets around to enough people to fail your movie and keep it from earning you any money. |
| 3684 | Anonymous | |
| 3685 | Carole Cushman | This has totally surprised me. I come across a lot of ignorance to my child with special needs still and this certainly doesn't help to make awareness that it's not "wrong" to be different. That's why these people are called "special". |
| 3686 | Tara Ruggiero | |
| 3687 | Wendy Hartman | |
| 3688 | kathy Hart-Braun | I would have thought our civilization would have come farther than this. It's a shame.
I am a teacher and have talked to many children about how a thoughtless comment can hurt people- even if it was intended as a "joke." |
| 3689 | Anonymous | |
| 3690 | Dorothy Dycus | This is disgusting and should be outlawed. |
| 3691 | Natalya | I don't want to punish you for the punishment you're inflicting on innocent people. I'd just like to see you learn something from this and let it change your future behavior, starting with genuine contrition. |
| 3692 | Christine McIntire | |
| 3693 | Anonymous | For my sweet girl Lois who doesn't deserve to be called "retard." |
| 3694 | Anonymous | Dear Ben Stiller,
You don't have to be a Rocket Scientist to figure out that this so-called SPECIAL CHARACTER in Tropic Thunder would hurt many, many people!
Ben, your coming across as just plain dumb + heartless........................................................................
I can't imagine screening this movie with DreamWork's exec's + no one thought any lines were crossed?
I saw this movie + was shocked how you used this character. It was total over kill + embarrassing. I can't imagine mocking a group of people to that extent.
You would never use the N word 16 plus times or
there would be hell to pay.
Trust me, it's not funny to make fun of people, many who don't have a voice. Talk about fighting for civil rights.
I should know, I have a 29 yr old daughter who happens to have Down Syndrome.
Who knows, maybe one day you may have a child who may be born with a disibility. |
| 3695 | C Leopold | |
| 3696 | Anonymous | awful, offensive, how dare you! |
| 3697 | Melissa Bjerkness | Our youngest son has down syndrome and we had to battle with my husbands father calling our son a 'r'- after getting to know and love our son(his flesh and blood) he no longer would use such an ignorant word. Ignorance is all I can say that you are filled with. Get to know one of these angels and you'll be changed forever. You may yourself have a flesh and blood relative that struggles one day and I hope that you don't need to fight with people of your arrogance to protect them and give them the best life ever. |
| 3698 | Dan Stauft | I am a father who lost my youngest son, Harrison, to a severe neurological disability 4 years ago just before he turned 5, as such I must agree with this cause... |
| 3699 | Tanya R. Clark | Proud mom of four including Zach 7, born with Down syndrome |
| 3700 | Kay Reves | |