A coalition of disability organizations is organizing a boycott of the film Tropical Thunder. They object to the film’s frequent use of the word “retard”. By default, I tend to be suspicious of any film boycott, whatever the motivation. In this case, I agree that “retard” is an ugly word, but it seems inconsistent to single out this movie when shows like South Park and even The Daily Show use it just as liberally.
The boycott’s organizers make the argument that “retard” is just as offensive as racial epithets. But I’m not sure the comparison is justified. Racial epithets have long histories of derogatory use. But even today, “retarded” is a common descriptor of people with cognitive disabilities in some medical and social service circles. There isn’t much distance between “retarded” and “retard”. The organizers might consider giving equal scorn to the medical professionals and bureaucrats who continue to perpetuate the word’s use in polite society.
