If it relates to my kid and everyone wants to make it as simple as a PC issue, then I guess I’m guilty. As a Conservative WASP in this vast liberal wasteland that is CT I’m well aware of political correctness and how much of it is a one-way street leading away from me and my beliefs. Count your blessings that you don’t have to personally see how impactful a word can be when it applies to and is used towards one of your children. It’s easy to throw out the PC cry from the ivory tower (I know, I was there at one time), it’s another to be dropped into the middle of the fray.
Apparently I give some of my fellow Conservative bretheren way too much credit when it comes to decency.
Trying to get some people to understand that calling someone a retard is above and beyond a black and white PC issue is about like trying to use common sense with a liberal. Some people will just never get it. Just as there are people who still find it acceptable to use the “N” word and bullies who pick on those they know won’t or aren’t strong enough to fight back.
I’ll leave you all alone to your “funny” little jokes and jpg’s now. At least you all can take comfort in the fact that most of “them” won’t be in a position to defend themselves. I’ll just never be insecure enough to see the humor in that.
I think Stiller's point was highlighting the fact that "serious" actors all feel the need at some point in their career to give their spin on a handicapped person. (Robert DeNiro, Sean Penn, Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Shawn Cassidy, Dustin Hoffman, Adrian Brody, Tom Hanks, Johnny Knoxville, John Malkovich, etc.)
In the movie, the character talks ignorantly about the challenges and artistry of playing a "retard" in a sense that makes it sound to me like he's making funny of the idiot actor, which is certainly fertile ground.