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MADSS News
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E-newsletters
Check out our (pretty much) weekly e-newsletters here. Packed with lots of information about MADSS, upcoming events, and our community.
MADSS eNews 9/24/09
MADSS eNews 9/16/09
MADSS eNews 9/11/09
MADSS eNews 8/28/09
MADSS e-News 8/13/09
MADSS e-News 7/24/09
MADSS e-News 7/16/09
MADSS e-News 6/25/09
MADSS eNews 6/12/09
MADSS E-News 6/4/2009
MADSS E-News 5/28/09
MADSS e-News 5.22.09
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'Tropic Thunder' Response
The big budget movie, 'Tropic Thunder,' set to debut on 8/13, has
angered disability advocates across the country for its crass,
dehumanizing characterization of people with intellectual disabilities.
Trailers and YouTube postings centered on the Ben Stiller character
"Simple John" have included copious use of the word "retard" and the
hot new catchphrase from the movie, "never go full retard," is already
on t-shirts. A national coalition is calling for a boycott of this
film.
To be clear, MADSS does not advocate censorship. We are simply asking
our supporters to be thoughtful about the impact of your entertainment
dollars when making decisions about this film. The image evoked by the
word "retard" is harmful because it prevents society from seeing people
with disabilities as individuals with promise and value to add to our
community. Consider the effect of this on new parents learning their
child has Down syndrome, or schoolchildren who will soon have a new
classmate with an intellectual disability. The language we choose to
use impacts and reflects the way we think about others. The popularity
of this movie, both in theatres and the likely holiday DVD release,
will doubtless cause yet another resurgence in derogatory use of this
outdated and often hateful term. Out of respect for the families and
individuals with intellectual disabilities that you know, consider not
supporting this movie.
For more information please see the following resources:
madss_tropic thunder response
blueberryshoes.com/psa
www.r-word.org
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