Protest outside theaters showing "Tropic Thunder" (CT)

(WTNH) -- The new comedy film "Tropic Thunder" is no laughing matter to champions of the intellectually disabled. They've called for a boycott of the movie.

Cecily Quincy's son Cory is almost 3-years-old. He's full of energy, loves to laugh and enjoys playing with his older brother and younger sister.

Cory has Down Syndrome and Quincy feels a great responsibility to protect him. "We really want to make his world a better place," she said.

Quincy is a member of the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress, an advocacy and support group made up of parents, conducted by volunteers like Cecily and Jessica Heeran, 3-year-old Joseph's mom.

Together they are joining with other advocacy groups, protesting the new movie "Tropic Thunder" -- a Hollywood blockbuster which opened Wednesday.

What upsets them most is what they call the insensitive portrayal of the intellectually disabled and the repeated use of the word 'retard.'

"It kills me even to admit it, but before I had Joey, I would use that word occasionally and now, looking back, I regret it more than anything else in my whole life," Heeran said. "Knowing that I once said that word in that way."

In Tropic Thunder's movie-within-a-movie, actor Ben Stiller plays an actor who portrays a character with a disability.

On Good Morning America, Wednesday morning, Stiller (who also directed the film) says his intention is to make fun of Hollywood, not people with disabilities.

"In the context of the film, I really feel like it's really clear that we're making fun of actors and actors who try to use serious subjects to try to win awards," Stiller said. "It's about actors and self-importance."

But, protesters say it's about much more; it's about being respected and not being teased.

"I think I always feel sad all the time and including when someone actually tries to be really hurtful about it," Kirsten Saracino, of Burlington, said.

And it's about people like Cory Quincy. "It's community awareness," Quincy said. "To know that there are children and adults in your community that are just like you, just like your children. And, it's just the point of just meet them, just meet my son."

Thanks dead, I appreciate having a civilized discussion about the issue. The examples of the usual responses can be seen here as well as other ones I’ve read on anonymous comment boards that are a lot less family friendly and I think that is where the issue lies (and pretty telling about the type of people posting those comments).

I think the difference between “Something About Mary”, your parody and Tropic Thunder is a matter of quantity. I actually thought “Something About Mary” was a pretty funny flick. Yeah I cringed when Dillon’s character talked about working with “retards” but his character’s shortcomings were well established, he used it once (or twice, I can’t remember) and the movie moved on. The relationship between Stiller’s and Cameron Diaz’ character and W. Earl Brown’s portrayal of Warren (yes, the aforementioned stereotypical portrayal but not as a repeated source of humor) and the other folks with disabilities was a far more positive on balance. I’m sure your wife’s lib cousin would have found any excuse to be offended by your parody.

All I can say is that I guess your perspective changes when something hits you personally. I was as anti-PC as anyone here before my son was born. I’ll say most of the un-”PC” words weren’t in my vocabulary anyway but I still thought the PC movement had run amok.

Friends and family members, no matter how well intentioned and understanding, really can’t grasp what is like to have a child with a disability (just as I’ll never know what my son will have to deal with on a personal level). My wife and I enjoyed and found a great level of comfort meeting up with other parents who went through the same experiences that we had because they got “it” without having to try to explain what “it” was. While there are some parents who will try to paint a rosy picture from day, most of us did go through a process (and yes, there is a progression of feelings) of having a child that others will and do view as “imperfect.”

We’ll have to agree to disagree on this matter but I do appreciate your point of view. Like I said before, it was one I shared at one point. But people like yourself aren’t where the problem lies (and kudos at your time at the camp).

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.