This week's Asshat goes to actor/director/writer/producer Ben Stiller.I'm not going into a diatribe---I wrote about how I feel earlier this year in my post Language is Powerful. Dave Hingsburger wrote about Mr. Stiller this week and I couldn't say it better.
And for anyone who blithely thinks it's "just a word", I challenge you to substitute the "N" word every time you use the "R" word. You wouldn't? Why ever not?
Many thanks to Jacqui at Terrible Palsy for the head's up, and for posting this:
15 comments:
Teens and kids today, and apparently directors, need a good old fashioned lesson in manners, and courtesy. I don't think they're taught these important life lessons anymore.
There should be a rule, Ask your shelf, what would my Mom think of this?
Hi Attila,
You might enjoy this quick read from the gossip site PerezHilton.com: Protesting “Tropic Thunder". It’ll be interesting to see if Dreamworks eventually sees the errors of its ways…
Without commenting on the rightness or wrongness of it, I think it's just terribly interesting that the fact that Robert Downey Jr. is essentially in blackface for the entire movie hasn't raised any protest whatsoever. That's the thing that I thought would light this thing up.
He deserves that hat and a few others.
I USED to be a fan of his. Not anymore!
Hugs!!
Whats really scary is all the comments left on Perez Hilton. They seem to think the "R" word is an everyday word to be flinged around like "the" and "and". Geez.
Hi Attila,
In case you missed it: Ben Stiller Responds to MTV about the outcry over Tropic Thunder on PerezHilton.com.
This pissed me off, big time. I can't see why they don't get it.
Oh dear. Oh dear.
I can't tell you how p.o.ed I get hearing that word. All my kid's friends have learned (the hard way in some cases) not to say it in my house, or anywhere within my hearing.
I get so mad when anyone defends the word, saying that it doesn't stand for people with disabilities, that it stands for "stupid" people. What kind of freaking argument is that?!
Ugh!
I share your anger! Thanks for the post!
I KNEW you would post on this. You were the first person I thought of when I heard about this!
Mr. Mayhem and I actually got into a discussion about this...just this morning. I was trying to explain why it is so wrong (I was trying to remember some things from your post...but my memory betrayed me!)
What a shame. It is so easy to be funny without resorting to such nonsense!
Teens and kids today, and apparently directors, need a good old fashioned lesson in manners, and courtesy. I don't think they're taught these important life lessons anymore.
That is what the first commenter said. As a teen, I DO NOT think that the R word is funny. So, when you say that Brenda, you are assuming that all teens think that its funny... and I don't. Not all teens are alike. Don't mesh the good teens with the rude, crude, and airheaded teens.
Attila -- thanks for a great post. I hope that PSA gets plenty of air time.
anonymous teen -- I agree most teens are not cruel. Even many cruel people have no intention of being cruel, they are often ignorant. The great thing about blogging on this topic is that it raises awareness and dispels ignorance. THAT is the beauty of blogging. That is the beauty of free speech. I hope more people speak out on the topic, it can be turned into an opportunity to educate.
Thanks Attila!
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