- What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
- Rainman
- The Other Sister
- Forest Gump
- There’s Something About Mary
I have seen all of these movies, but I cannot watch them again. Not now. I have a very hard time watching certain characters. Today, I was watching one of those VH1 “I Love the 1990′s” shows. They started to discuss Johnny Depp and his 1993 movie “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” The purpose of that show is to show comedians making funny comments about the time period, so we can all reminisce and laugh. Several of the comedians made little jokes about Leonardo DiCaprio and his character in the movie.
“what a cute retard” they said.
Not funny. My problem with the movies listed above is not that they all unfairly or innacurately portray people with disabilities. Its just that some things hit too close to home and I cannot watch them right now, at this point in my life. So, Gilbert Grape is on my list. But, after seeing the clips of the movie, I am remembering that it was a “good” movie, right? I think I remember that Johnny Depp’s character was a good son and brother and he took care of his family, treating them well and trying to shelter them from the cruelness of the rest of the world. So, maybe this is one I should watch. How ironic that (if I remember the plot correctly) this movie was about acceptance and finding your happiness regardless of how the rest of the world viewed you, yet the comedians boil it down to Leonardo DiCaprio making “a cute retard.” That’s messed up.
Maybe I see it this way because of Pookie, but I hope that other people would agree with me. I know that a comedian’s job is to make jokes and that they have to be edgy, but I cannot believe that there is anyone left who laughs at “retard” jokes. Tell me I am right. I am right, aren’t I?
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Back when I was in the military, I remember all my friends rushing out to see every war movie that came out. I couldn’t bring myself to watch a movie like that during that point in my life since I had friends from basic training/tech school that were in positions where they were actually getting shot at from time to time.
The one that’s getting to me recently is when perfectly normal people complain about the ADD’edness when they are too lazy to pay attention to something. Short attention span is very different than ADD or ADHD and for some reason that little remark gets to me these days.
For a long time I thought I was the only person left on earth that has not seen (and enjoyed, so they say) the movie Forest Gump. You may know that I have not seen lots of movies because I don’t go to movies but there was no way I was ever going to go to, rent, or watch Forest Gump on tv because of what I knew about the subject matter. I have always wondered if all the people who thought Forest Gump was so wonderful really knew a “Forest Gump” and have thought about the implications knowing this person has had on my life and on the life of people like Forest Gump himself. My mother taught me to be sensitive to these matters and I hope I taught my children the same…..I think I did ….although once in a while frustration or other influences may overwhelm their sensitivity. By the way, I loved the sound track of Forest Gump, bought it and wore it out during my commute. Love MOM
P,S. Good for you. Keep up the good work and continue the fight into the next generation….as I know you will.
My husband and I have two sons, 15 and 13 years old. Our 15 yr-old son is developmentally disabled; he’s a wonderful, sweet, gentle kid who happens to be mentally retarded. I cringe whenever I hear someone say the word “retard”.
Here’s both the text and youtube video of a speech by Soeren Palumbo, a High School senior (college freshman now) who’s 12 yr-old sister is developmentally delayed. The ending of this speech makes me cry every time. The title of his speech is: In Such an Era of Political Correctness, Why is the Word “Retard” Still OK?
http://www.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/Press_Room/Global_news/ARC+of+Illinois+Reprint.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoqaNG0Ozqc
I enjoy reading both BAGD and BAGM.
Tina
Sometimes a deep breath is needed. I think you may be overthinking the word “retard”. Pookie does not remotely remind me of kids that I considered a “retard” while growing up. Maybe I’ve just grown up. But, I think that looking into the eyes of that beautiful, inquisitive child leaves me far removed from “retard”. And to make a comparison with any of the characters in the movies that you listed leaves me breathless. Breath deep PAPAW. XXOO. Giggles is a perfect choice for the sister of an “eastsider”