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The R-Word

Retard is a HATE word.

It wasn't so funny after April 25th 2006.

Tropic Thunder. I don't know what you all have heard about this new movie, but what I have seen so far in the media makes my heart hurt. For all those who shrug their shoulders and don't think it is a big deal, take a moment and put the shoe on the other foot. We are here trying with all of our might to have Ivey included in this world with the least amount of stigmatism aside from the obvious that already exists....and then there are things like this.

Please take a moment to watch the video. I would really like to hear back from all of you. What do you think, all opinions?


Jill Egle
Co-Executive director of the Arc of Northern Virginia
Letter to Ben Stiller

Ivey, I am so blessed and happy to be 'stuck' with you. my angel.

Also, I have not seen the movie, so I will not jump out on a limb as of yet. I would have posted a video of someone speaking about those opposing the movie; however, all that I watched had explicit language. You can watch an opposing opinion to that of Jill's on youtube.
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Comments

Heather said…
Oh my gosh Gwen.I don't know where to start except I so wish I had seen this video before I posted about Tropic Thunder a few posts back. I wouldn't have had to write a sentence because Jill says it all.She is amazing,our children are amazing.I am planning on asking to address two local high schools in our area so to help educate the youth out there because after they see this movie it is going to be a whole new level of cruelty and ignorance on campus. For instance,at one of my daughters school that don't just say the "R" word left and right they now refer to themselves in terms of "Oh,I'm so D.S.!"(Down syndrome)I cannot even believe it,makes me sick,the whole thing.I am going to link this video on my site. Thanks so much for posting it.
August 16, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Barbie @ Mamaology said…
I've never heard of this movie.... but from what I watched Jill say and what you say you have seen, I agree it hurts my heart too!

My Mom had brain cancer and slowly (over 7 years) became unable to care for herself or her family. I remember people being uncomfortable around her, making me all the more uncomfortable as a child. So in some way, I can relate.

I think of the statement "if you don't have something good to say, don't say anything at all." That should be what Hollywood and the Media should do in regards to those with disabilities and disadvantages. Why make people feel more uncomfortable! Why validate stereotypes?

I pray you and your sweet family are doing well!
August 19, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Shannon said…
No desire to see the movie. Makes me sick. Yeah we live in a free speach world, but cmon Hollywood! Makes me sick, sick, sick!!! I'll probably go nuts if I see a tshirt or hear the word again.
-Shannon in Austin
August 19, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Borbe Bunch said…
Hi sweet friend....
the R-Word gives me CHILLS, it does EVERY time someone uses it...so carelessly, even referring to themselves, when making a stupid move....I just want to scream at them...it hurts my heart so very much...when we were working with youth, my husband talked about it and of course spoke about having a son that is thought of as a "R" it was a hard talk to get through...but we hope to have made some of the teens think twice before using that term...it is our sweet children that can make a difference in this hurtful world...thanks for posting this video...I hope this will make people consider their words more carefully...you and I friend, continually live in a MEAN world, that gawks and stares...I am thinking of you and wishing we could shop at the same Wal-Mart :) But I would NEVER change any of it, it is hard, but I am so very blessed, NO one can take that away!!!!
Much love,
Liz
August 19, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Girl Raised in the South said…
When our kids were growing up we took a mason jar and wrote out a list of words that we called, interestingly enough "Hate words". shut up, stupid, hate you, ugly, dumb, and retard was one of them. It was not allowed in our home, or at least if you said it you paid for it. The money was collected in the jar and given to the church offering. We still have the little slip of paper and I seriously still to this day do not hear our grown kids use these words. I cant remember when I've ever heard any of our grown kids say 'shut up'. When I do hear it in public it sounds so foreign to me. This was a good 20 years ago, but the lessons stuck, and long before this movie it was on our list of words that were not spoken under our roof.

Years later I grew a friendship with a lovely woman whose middle daughter has Downs syndrome. I was so thankful that long ago we'd decided that was not a word anyone in our family would utter, unknowingly hurting others around us. My heart goes out to you for all the little hurts you and your family have to endure from those who might well be unaware their words are injuring someone, let alone those who flaunt it.
August 21, 2008 at 9:33 AM
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